Edmonton charity becomes largest donor to global health org

The Dianne and Irving Kipnes Foundation has become the largest single donor in Partners in Health Canada's 15-year history with a $5-million gift that more than doubles their total support to the global health organization.

The Edmonton-based foundation's latest donation will strengthen oncology and maternal and child health programming in Rwanda, including work at the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence in the country's north.

Before her death in 2024, Dianne Kipnes was a luminary on Canada's charitable scene, with donations spanning medical research, business, and the arts at the University of Alberta, plus community initiatives across Edmonton and beyond. Irving Kipnes is continuing that legacy.

"Mothers who receive successful breast cancer treatment will be there to support their children. Children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will have a good chance at living a long and normal life," said Mark Brender, national director of Partners in Health. "These outcomes were unimaginable in rural east Africa a generation ago."

Irving Kipnes challenged others to extend generosity beyond Canada's borders, noting that government aid cutbacks make private philanthropy increasingly important. "Money goes a lot further in the places where Partners In Health works," he said.

Partners in Health works across 11 countries to strengthen public health systems and advocate for universal health care. The foundation's ongoing support underscores Edmonton's quiet role in shaping global health outcomes.