The Toronto alumni community has waited a long time to celebrate in person with 2020 Toronto Branch Award recipient, Colin Lynch, Artsci鈥07, Com鈥07. Next month, they鈥檒l get that chance.
Delayed for more than two years due to pandemic restrictions, the cocktail reception will take place from 7 to 11 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at the Broadview Hotel in Toronto.
The award is presented to Toronto-area alumni who have distinguished themselves and contributed to society in their careers, in their volunteer work, or in the arts. Gathering in person is an appropriate way to mark an award that emphasizes鈥痗ommunity engagement as part of its criteria.
That criteria is reflected in every facet of Lynch鈥檚 work.鈥
鈥淐olin exudes the Queen鈥檚 alumni spirit of excellence, selflessness, leadership, and giving back,鈥 says Queen鈥檚 Black Alumni Chapter president Yinka Adegbusi, Artsci鈥13, who nominated Lynch for the award.
The significance of Lynch鈥檚 contributions extends far beyond the Queen鈥檚 community. Building community was at the heart of his involvement with the (TCHC). TCHC is the second-largest social housing provider in North America and as a board member, Lynch helped double the organization鈥檚 maintenance budget to $350 million to address a litany of problems.
鈥淭here are 120,000 people in social housing. It鈥檚 hard to find a more direct way to impact tens of thousands of lives,鈥 says Lynch.鈥
Lynch鈥檚 most recent project, the Black Opportunity Fund, seeks the same direct impact. A co-founder of the organization, Lynch hopes to raise $1 billion over the next decade to fight anti-Black racism in Canada. The endowment will fund a wide range of Black-focused charities, non-profits, companies, and create a permanent and transformative endowment for the Black community.
For his part, Lynch is looking forward to celebrating with his fellow Toronto alumni. 鈥淭o be honoured in this way is humbling,鈥濃疞ynch says of the award.
