£75 million donation to Rhodes Trust announced

The gift, the largest since the establishment of the Scholarship in 1903, will enable the Trust to continue to send future global leaders to the University of Oxford. It consists of a £25 million grant, a £25 million challenge/match donation to encourage additional fundraising for a total of £50 million, and a future £25 million to expand the Scholarships into new geographies.

Speaking to over 500 Rhodes Scholars at the 110th Anniversary of the Scholarship in Oxford today, John McCall MacBain said: 'Receiving the Rhodes Scholarship and attending Oxford were among the highlights of my life. These Scholarships have been helping develop future leaders for over a century. With the world facing ever-increasing challenges, the need to help develop leadership skills is more important than ever. I hope that this gift will help secure them for another 100 years.' The Campaign for the Second Century launched at this 110th Anniversary aims to raise £110 million.

David Cameron, UK Prime Minister, said: 'I welcome this donation to ensure that Rhodes Scholarships will flourish long into the future. It is great news for the UK and our world class, higher education system that such a prestigious programme looks set to be secured for the long term.'

John Hood, Chairman of the Rhodes Trust, said: 'We are deeply grateful to John, Marcy and the McCall MacBain Foundation for their determined leadership in this new capital campaign to build the endowment for the Rhodes Trust. The Rhodes Scholarships work to inspire future generations of young leaders, which does not only have a profound impact on those individual lives, but also on their communities and the wider world.'

Don Gogel, Chairman of the Development Committee for the Rhodes Scholarships, added: 'This transformational gift helps develop these wonderful Scholarships, which have produced some of the 20th century’s most eminent leaders in business, politics, the arts and education. It also enables other donors to leverage their gifts by attracting the matching money that the McCall MacBain Foundation has made available.'

Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: 'For over a century, the Rhodes Trust has played an integral part in the life of the University. Indeed, it is hard to imagine the one existing without the other. I am absolutely delighted that the McCall MacBain Foundation has taken this step to ensure the future health of the Rhodes Trust with its magnificent donation. The University will add further support and plans to work with the Trust to help it raise matching funding for the challenge posed by this grant.'

In recognition of the transformative nature of the gift – this is the largest donation by a Canadian to scholarships – John McCall MacBain will be named a Second Century Founder of the Rhodes Trust and the Rhodes Scholarships. He also serves as a Rhodes Trustee and as Chair of the 110th Rhodes Anniversary.