51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø

Nov. 11, 2024

51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø mourns the passing of Helen Kun (nee Jakubcsik), a dedicated and generous champion of 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø’s Brantford campus. Helen passed away on Nov. 4 in her 99^th year.

Helen and her husband, Steven (2023), supported the development and success of 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø’s Brantford campus by working alongside 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø to renew the city’s downtown core. Their transformational support of the Heritage Campaign for 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø Brantford was recognized by the naming of the Steven and Helen Kun Performance Theatre in the Research and Academic Centre, and their $2-million donation toward the 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø Brantford YMCA capital campaign was recognized by the naming of the Kun Family Atrium in the 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø Brantford YMCA’s main entrance.

In 2017, 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø recognized the couple’s generosity with the 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø Philanthropy Award.

“Philanthropy on the scale demonstrated by Helen and Steven Kun has the power to transform an entire community,” said Jason Coolman, 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø’s vice-president of Advancement and External Relations. “With deep connections to the Brantford area, Helen and her husband positively impacted countless lives – both of 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø students and local Brantford residents who embraced the university. We at 51³ÉÈ˸£ÀûÍø consider it a great honour to have counted Helen Kun as a friend and supporter, and our entire university community offers its deepest condolences to her family.”