Gift of education to support vital health care professionals

Anju Virmani is, once again, making a difference through the art of strategic kindness. The former Chief Technology Officer of Cargojet has now created several scholarships at Toronto Metropolitan University, all rooted in her family’s experiences, her values, and her determination to make the world a better place. Her latest generous contribution is to create and fund two new scholarships for students of diverse backgrounds and identities studying at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing (DCSN). 

Creating these scholarships was a fitting tribute to Virmani’s late mother and her strong influence in shaping her daughter’s generosity of spirit. “My mother lived to be 99 years old, and she benefited from wonderful nursing care over the years,” Virmani recalled. “My mother encouraged me to be the business leader and philanthropist I am today.”

Virmani has often found herself the only woman, or the only person of colour in the room, as she built her stellar career as a C-suite executive, an investor, a business advisor and mentor. These experiences convinced her that removing barriers to inclusion is vital to the success of institutions, from health care to business and beyond.  “We should always be learning and finding ways to include people and communities. This is how we make our communities better,” she said.

These new awards build on Virmani’s history of charitable support to foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment at the university. In 2016, in honour of her mother, she created the Savitri and Anju Virmani Scholarship for Women in STEM, and she also recently created a new award for LGBTQ2S+ students at the Faculty of Community Services.

The Dharam and Anju Virmani Diversity Award for Leaders in Urban Health is a scholarship for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students pursuing a PhD in Urban Health. It recognizes talented leaders in urban health – a sector whose vital importance Virmani has come to appreciate as a board member of Ontario Health. “New programs like the PhD in Urban Health will help us all to become more resilient and address the needs of society together,” she said. “Recipients are poised to become the future leaders who will advance the health and well-being of diverse populations in urban centres.” Jointly named for Anju and her late father, the award will provide $10,000 in funding to each student in the first cohort of this new program. Going forward, one scholarship of $10,000 will be awarded each year for five years to an incoming first-year student

Virmani has also endowed the Anju Virmani LGBTQ2S+ Nursing Award, which will be given to one student annually in perpetuity. The award will recognize and support LGBTQ2S+ nursing students who are advancing the health and well-being of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and nearing graduation to become Registered Nurses. “I created this award because I know that many LGBTQ2S+ young people struggle with coming out to their families or in some cultural communities. I want to see these people valued and supported at their true worth.”

“Education is a gift that keeps on giving,” said Virmani, “and creating these scholarships is a way to spread my philosophy of allying diversity and inclusion with excellent outcomes.”