HIGH ACHIEVERS: Generous million-dollar gifts benefit Carleton, uOttawa student-athletes

By Martin Cleary

A university education has meant the world to Michael Hapke and Dr. Gary Greenberg.

And they’re showing their full appreciation for that opportunity by reciprocating with a huge financial contribution to their respective alma maters, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa.

Inspired by the values of community, connection and giving back that he learned from his days involved in hockey, Hapke made a donation of $1 millon last month to the Carleton athletics department.

In turn, Carleton has renamed the Ice House to the Advanced Capital Ice House for a 10-year period.

The Ice House opened in September 2005 with two NHL-sized ice surfaces and seating for 500 spectators in the main rink. It serves as the home for the Carleton University Ravens men’s and women’s hockey teams. The facility also is used by members of the Ottawa community for recreational activities and training.

Hapke, an Ottawa business leader who graduated from Carleton in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Law degree, is the president and chief executive officer of the Advanced Group of Companies.

The Advanced Group of Companies is comprised of Advanced Mortgage Investment Corporation, Advanced Capital Corporation, Advanced Alternative Lending and Mortgage Brokers City and is focused on the ongoing and increasing need for alternative financing options in the Canadian marketplace, according to Hapke’s LinkedIn account.

One year ago, Dr. Greenberg went well beyond his lengthy contributions to student-athlete sports medicine with an historic $3.1-million gift to the University of Ottawa.

The donation will be in the form of 62 annual scholarships for student-athletes in at least eight sports over each of the next 10 years. Each scholarship will be worth up to $5,000 each for eligible student-athletes in football, women’s soccer, women’s rugby, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s hockey and women’s volleyball.

Dr. Greenberg’s gift is the largest ever to the Gee-Gees’ varsity athletics program and among the 10 biggest received from alumni in the university’s history.

Hapke understands his hockey, but takes it to the next level as he sees it as a vehicle to unite people by “creating a welcoming space, where community members can develop their skills, share experiences and cultivate lasting connections,” according to a Carleton University news release.

His homemade backyard ice rink brought family, including his two sons, friends and neighbours together throughout the day to create special memories.

“For me, this was an opportunity to give back to an institution that gave me the opportunity to grow and dream,” Hapke said in the release, “which helped shape my career and to share the joy that was brought to me by being on the ice. I want to give that to others.”

Hapke developed his perseverance and teamwork through his connection with hockey and through his generosity he wants “to empower the next generation of student-athletes to fulfill their aspirations.”

As a Carleton student, he was greatly influenced by all his experiences and hopes his donation will help future student-athletes achieve their goals.

Hapke’s gift will support Carleton’s commitment to high-quality athletic venues “that enhance the student-athlete experience, while expanding access to hockey programming for youth and families in Ottawa,” according to the release.

“We are thrilled that Michael Hapke has chosen to partner with Carleton University in championing lifelong athletic excellence,” Carleton vice-president (students and enrolment) Suzanne Blanchard said.

“Through his meaningful investment in Carleton athletics, Hapke is helping to create a vibrant environment, where student-athletes and the Ottawa community can thrive.”

While the student-athletes took care of the touchdowns and game-winning goals and the coaches prepared strategies for every game, Dr. Greenberg was responsible for dealing with the players from a sport medicine perspective.

Dr. Greenberg, who earned his medical degree from Ottawa in 1977 after doing his undergraduate degree at Carleton, spent more than 45 years as the team doctor for the football and men’s hockey teams, beginning in 1980. He also is a team physician for the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks.

Having watched and treated thousands of Gee-Gees varsity athletes in his five decades of medical service, Dr. Greenberg knows the importance of scholarship support for the student-athletes. He hopes his gifts will assist them “to better focus on their academic and athletic activities and relieve some of the financial burden off their shoulders,” according to a University of Ottawa press release.

“In my 46th year of being a sport medicine physician and team physician, I am aware of how difficult it is to balance the demands of a daily schedule, which includes time for university classes, sport practices, competitions and off-season workouts and part-time work,” Dr. Greenberg said in the release. “This balance can also come with difficulties financially (and) managing all those tasks.

“I hope the support I am giving will encourage other alumni to support, in whatever way they can, our well-deserving student-athletes as they work to achieve their goals.”

Dr. Greenberg, who was inducted into the Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame in 2014, previously created two other student-athlete scholarships.

“This gift will support the talented student-athletes here on campus and it will act as a magnet for coaches to help recruit the best student-athletes to uOttawa,” University of Ottawa president Jacques Frémont added.

As a young emergency room doctor at The Ottawa Hospital in 1980, Dr. Greenberg also founded the uOttawa Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy Clinic. Despite stepping back as its director, Dr. Greenberg, 71, still works in the clinic once a week.

“Through countless injuries, recoveries and championship moments, I have witnessed his unparalleled dedication to ensuring our teams could compete at their best,” longtime Gee-Gees women’s volleyball coach Lionel Woods remembered.

“Beyond medical expertise, Dr. Greenberg’s kindness and mentorship have left a lasting impact on generations of athletes, coaches and athletic therapy teams.”