$2 million donated by the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation to support emerging entrepreneurs at HEC Montréal and other initiatives
Thursday October 19, 2023
Montreal, October 19, 2023 – The HEC Montréal Foundation today announced a $2 million donation from the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation. Half of this will be directed toward the Cursus entrepreneurial series of training activities and workshops within the Pôle Entrepreneuriat, Repreneuriat et Famille en affaires. The other half will be leveraged to help fund the Hélène Desmarais Building, inaugurated in the fall of 2023 with a focus on continuing education.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to Quebec. I grew up in Montreal after moving here from Italy as a young child. I received an excellent education and I’ve been able to make a name for myself in the business world. Through this donation, my wife, Lise, and I hope to give back to society what it has given us.
This is also meant as a message of hope to immigrants by showing them that, yes, you can make your dreams come true here, start a company that does business all over North America and become a leader in your chosen industry.”
“My father is a man of ambition and compassion for others. Investing in higher education is important to our family, especially when it comes to supporting young entrepreneurs. By making innovation, excellence and engagement the foundations upon which he built Ingénia, he has shown how closely his priorities and HEC Montréal’s values are aligned. We share the same vision and commitment to those who will be the standard-bearers of change going forward.”
Michel Patry, President and CEO of the HEC Montréal Foundation, stated, “It is a tremendous privilege for us to welcome the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation among the top donors to HEC Montréal. A contribution of this size will be a game-changer for both the institution and the next generation of entrepreneurs who, like Mr. Racanelli, will lead us forward as we face the challenges of our time.”
Helping prepare today’s entrepreneurs for the challenges of tomorrow
This contribution from the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation will go toward helping entrepreneurs that are just starting out and/or hail from cultural communities, with $100,000 a year over a 10-year horizon earmarked for the Cursus entrepreneurial series of activities, the goal of which is to support participants in the business acceleration and incubation programs operated as part of La base entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal.
“This outstanding donation by the Racanelli family will lend impetus to the Cursus entrepreneurial series of university-level workshops and training activities, said Luis Cisneros, Co-Director, La base entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal. Supported by a network of entrepreneurs and faculty members specializing in key entrepreneurial disciplines, this series serves as the linchpin for the assistance provided through La base entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal. It will provide a significant boost for our mission to train well-rounded leaders who are equipped to drive the long-term success of their businesses.”
In acknowledgement of this donation, the collaborative space used for the activities of the Pôle Entrepreneuriat, Repreneuriat et Famille en affaires will be dubbed the Espace Fondation Lise et Giuseppe Racanelli.
Explore the Hélène Desmarais Building, a new hub for continuing education and innovation
About Giuseppe Racanelli and Ingénia Technologies
Prolific philanthropist and entrepreneur Giuseppe Racanelli graduated from HEC Montréal in 1968. He is quick to acknowledge that the diverse backgrounds and cultures of his teams is his company’s greatest asset in terms of keeping ideas fresh and developing one-of-a-kind technologies. As someone who is always on the lookout for new solutions to meet his clients’ specific needs, he has devoted his career to fine-tuning automated processes and streamlining operations to make them as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
INGÉNIA TECHNOLOGIES INC. is a North American leader in the design and manufacture of custom air handling units and various products for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. Made in Mirabel using innovative designs and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, Ingénia’s high-quality products are tailored to meet the specific needs of its clients. Ingénia’s custom air handling units can be found in a wide range of healthcare, pharmaceutical, agrifood and industrial settings, as well as in museums and symphony halls.
About the HEC Montréal Foundation
The HEC Montréal Foundation supports HEC Montréal in shaping the next generation of world-class leaders and managers who will play an active role in fostering social and economic prosperity in Quebec and in further strengthening the institution’s visibility and reputation worldwide. The Foundation achieves this mission by engaging the HEC Montréal community and encouraging them to give generously to support students and help develop academic and research programs that spark innovation and deliver results.
For more information
Émilie Novales, APR
Senior Media Relations Advisor
438 520-3536
emilie.novales@hec.ca