A Gift to Inspire and Sustain
Naeem Farooqi (BBA ’08), proud alumnus and instructor, can now add philanthropic supporter to his already existing list of roles at Schulich. As a proud graduate, Naeem acknowledges his experience at Schulich as igniting his passion and interest in public transit and infrastructure.
A rising star, Naeem has already received many accolades for his work in the environmental industry, including the 2019 Canada Clean50 Emerging Leader Award, Mass Transit’s Global Top 40 Under 40, and the MIE Graduate Research Symposium’s Oral Presentation People Choice Award … to name a few.
When Naeem heard about the Leading Change Campaign, Schulich’s largest and most comprehensive fundraising and alumni engagement to date, he was proud to answer the call to give back to his alma mater. In speaking about his gift, Naeem said “my motivation for the donation was to give back to my school, which has provided me so many opportunities and experiences. Earning my BBA at Schulich has allowed me to develop my career on a global scale. I felt a strong need to contribute and be part of Leading Change movement at Schulich.”
Naeem was especially impressed with the capital expansion priorities of Leading Change Campaign and the emergence of the new Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building, one of the most environmentally sustainable and socially responsible academic buildings in North America.
When he first toured the finished Building, he envisioned his family name attached to the water fountain. “Water is a valuable resource in both life and in my faith,” says Naeem. Symbolically linking his gift to his values and principles of life, Naeem shared that “providing water to someone who is thirsty is the greatest charitable act and in return, you will receive many blessings.” In honour of Naeem’s contribution to the Campaign, the water hydration station on the 3rd-floor is now permanently named in honour of Naeem and his wife, Sherena Farooqi (BBA ’08, MBA/JD ’12), a Schulich alumna and Professor with the Brookfield Centre in Real Estate & Infrastructure at the School.