2024 40 Under 40 Winners

Molly has shown exemplary growth and leadership over her tenure at Sunnybrook Foundation, rising from an entry-level role to her current position as Philanthropy Director for the Odette Cancer Centre. She has raised over $45 million directly and contributed to over $150 million in total fundraising efforts, including securing a landmark $10 million gift to establish the Peter Cipriano Centre for Seniors Health. Her strategic approach, which includes implementing a prospect management system and leading internal communications for fundraising initiatives like Gateway II, has been pivotal in achieving Sunnybrook's philanthropic goals.

My healthcare philanthropy career started early, right out of university. While in business school, I was having difficulty finding purpose working in a corporate environment and was seeking something I was passionate about-something that would get me excited to go to work every day. Immediately after graduating, I volunteered for a Sunnybrook Foundation event where I met some of my future colleagues. They shared with me the passion they had for their work. When they reached out a few months later with an open position, I jumped at the opportunity to join the team.

The Canadian universal healthcare system has its benefits, but also its drawbacks. Philanthropy plays a significant role in challenging the standard of care and improving the system overall. Seeing firsthand the impact the community can have on inventing the future of healthcare for Canadians is what has inspired me to make this my career.

In 2014, I was working with a community event organizer giving $40,000 annually to Sunnybrook. Through dedicated stewardship and purposeful engagement, I deepened their relationship with the organization and led the cultivation and successful solicitation of a $10 million gift to the hospital. It was this experience which allowed me to realize the true value of this work, and the role I can play in impacting the future of healthcare for myself, my family, and my friends.

My greatest passion is building meaningful relationships with my hospital partners and members of our community, and through doing so, aligning the organization's needs with individuals' philanthropic interests. The power of being able to match those two key pieces together is what drives my passion for this field of work.

Find a mentor (or mentors) whose values match with your own and learn everything you can from them!