David Walker ’51

In an age of “robocalls” from various charitable causes, it takes a special person to get on the phone to 1,000 fellow UCC alumni and have a wide-ranging personal conversation about the school with every single one.

It’s exactly this passion and belief in the power of grassroots support that earned Walker ’51 the John D. Stevenson Award for 2015 (coincidentally John Stevenson was Walker’s head of house in McHugh’s).

David stepped up in November 2008 with an offer to personally telephone and solicit alumni for the annual fund, now called the UCC Fund. For more than a year he made 3,000 calls and connected with more than 1,000 Old Boys from all generations and raised more than $100,000.

“For a retiree to step up, without being asked, and contact so many people with whom he has no personal connection is extraordinary,” said former principal Jim Power. “It’s a very special form of volunteer service.”

David was previously inducted into UCC’s Harold A.D. Roberts Circle in 2009 for his volunteer service, which includes standing as class president since 1997. He was an annual giving committee member in 2008 and 2009, reunion giving chair in 2001 and is member of the Sir John Colborne Society for leadership donors.

David’s first foray into fundraising for UCC was in 1999 when classmates created endowed scholarships in honour of former teachers Jim Coulton and Jay MacDonald that ended up being worth more than $100,000 each.

David made annual giving calls in 2013 that raised approximately $15,000 for the Ted Stephenson Scholarship Fund, named for an Old Boy who taught at the College from 1964 to 1991.

“David has vigorously represented our class of 1951 for many years,demonstrating his enthusiastic love and dedication for UCC,” said Alec Pathy. “He’s most deserving of our thanks and recognition.”