Stories

Daniel Giannini Fund

Daniel Giannini

“I believe in helping a worthy person who doesn’t have the means,” Daniel Giannini said, reflecting on the main reason he has established a fund for bursaries to assist medical students. “My wife, Cecely, and I appreciate the value of education, and it gives me a lot of pleasure to help a deserving student.” He decided to start a fund during his lifetime to help students who need financial assistance. He credits the Foundation’s annual report, with its donor profiles, for the fund’s inspiration.

“I knew some of the people who had made donations and I was impressed overall with the organization.” A former miner in Kirkland Lake, Mr. Giannini met his wife in Australia while on a two-year mining contract. When the Second World War broke out, he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers, and served five years in Italy, England and Gibraltar. Later, he joined the life insurance business and 44 years ago came to Burlington with Empire Life.

While cruising to far off places and golf have been favourite activities, Mr. Giannini’s passion is the stock market. The Hamilton community has been very good to him, he explains, and the Fund is his way of recycling the fruits of his success so that others have an opportunity to pursue their dreams. “Of all the things I’ve accomplished in my life, the initiation of this fund at the Foundation is the one I’m most proud of” he said as the arrangements were made.

Excerpt from 1997-1998 Annual Report