Frechette gives historic donation to Carabins Sports Excellence Program

Montreal  – Guy Fréchette, a graduate of HEC Montreal, corporate director, retired from Ernst & Young, and great supporter of the Montreal Carabins has offered half a million dollars ($ 500,000) to the Montreal Carabins Sports Excellence Program. The donation, made through the Montreal campus fundraising is the largest ever made to a francophone university sport program in Quebec.

This historic announcement was made Wednesday at a press conference and will support the efforts of 450 athletes from 19 Carabins teams who are studying at three Montreal campuses: HEC Montreal, Montreal Polytechnique and Universite de Montreal.

A proud graduate…

Passionate about football, Guy Fréchette left his native region of Joliette in 1966 to begin studies in commerce and joined the Carabins football team.  However, his sporting dream was broken as the team saw the end to its activities upon his arrival at HEC Montreal as the sport was expended at this time.

“It is kind to allow many young student-athletes to live this experience that I was not able to and knowing that today, I am giving back to my alma mater, said Guy Fréchette, also pointing out how the training he received played a big role in his life and career.

“In addition to obtaining a high level of training, what they will learn through sports will allow them to thrive and contribute to the advancement of our society. The Carabins are role models for our youth. and this allows them to develop their full potential, which is something that is important to me. ”

In addition to his distinguished 38-year career at Ernst & Young, Guy Fréchette has always been very active in the community, serving as president of Montreal’s Chamber of Commerce from 2000 to 2001 and he serves on the board of administration at HEC Montreal.   In addition to chairing the Foundation, he had also been a member of the CEPSUM for several years.

“The pride of our great Carabins campus is not the only thing as it takes institutions to create it,” said Guy Fréchette. “Today’s announcement is just the beginning and I hope that this gesture I inspires others.”

And … a man of heart

“Guy Fréchette is a man of heart, a dedicated man who believed in us and decided to get involved to help us further develop the Carabins, said Paul Krivicky, CEO of CEPSUM which is at the heart of Carabins funding. “His passion and intensity makes him a builder.”

“This gift today is exceptional and is certainly a first. We are very proud that people from the business community continue to support the Carabins with equal vision. We believe the benefits of sport to academic excellence and we hope that others follow the path opened up by Mr. Fréchette today. ”

Advancement in the francophone culture of philanthropy

The Carabins specialized training room has existed since April 2010 on behalf of Mr. Robert Panet-Raymond, a corporate director and former member of the Carabins football team. This generous donor and CEPSUM Chairman of the Board at that time had provided the largest contribution to a program of French university sport in Quebec, which was $276,000.

“This is the quantity and quality of our financial projects makes it important in Francophone history,” said the Executive Director Montreal’s campus, John Parisella. “Today we celebrate a gift of leadership. Sports excellence has become a trademark for our campus. To successfully compete and succeed in education go hand in hand. We develop leaders and exemplary citizens for the community here and elsewhere.

“Guy Fréchette’s gesture helps us to mark an advance in the philanthropic culture of the Francophone world. This is a promising move going forward. ”

Consolidation of student- athlete services:

The Carabins Sport Program of Excellence is one of the programs that has experienced the fastest growth in the country since its revival in 1995. Today, it is the largest francophone university sports program in Quebec. With Guy Fréchette’s support, it will consolidate and improve the services offered to student-athletes in their academic and athletic progress.

“This decision of Mr. Fréchette means a lot to our organization. This is far from just a gift he gives us as his commitment is a great vote of confidence, “said the director of Universite of Montreal’s sports programs, Manon Simard. “With this gift, it will not only endorse our organization, but also the project and the vision that we carry. ”

“Many people help us in different ways and we need all the support. Guy Fréchette goes further and we sincerely thank him. This is a hand that will have a direct impact to our student-athletes. ”

In recognition of Guy Fréchette, the Carabins lounge, a gathering place for CEPSUM’s different athletes and partners of the organization during football matches, will now be named after Guy Fréchette.

About Guy Fréchette

It was his passion for football that made Guy Fréchette leave his hometown of Joliette in 1966 to go to the University of Montreal. Despite the dissolution of the Carabins team, he studied management at HEC Montreal. He graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Commerce before becoming a Chartered Accountant in 1972, ranking among the best in Canada.

He then began a remarkable 38-year career at Ernst & Young, where he acted as audit partner of several major Quebec companies before heading the department. He then headed the Quebec office and became Vice-President of the Canadian Executive Committee for the last ten years of his career.

For several years, Guy Fréchette has been active in the community, serving as president of Montreal’s Chamber of Commerce  in 2000-2001,and HEC Montreal, where he was awarded an honorary degree in 1998. He helped to establish the Board of Governors in 2008 which includes several business people having made a considerable donation to the school. In 2012, he became Chairman of the Board of Directors of the HEC Montreal Foundation.

In 2002, he answered the call of Robert Lacroix, former Rector of the University of Montreal, and became Governor of the Carabins to help in the revival of the football team

With files from Benoit Mongeon