Toronto was the setting for an unforgettable evening of culinary excellence, exceptional wines and extraordinary generosity as the UHN Grand Cru 2026 took place on October 28, 2026, at the Enercare Centre on the grounds of Exhibition Place.
Bringing together visionary philanthropists, acclaimed chefs, distinguished wine producers and community leaders, this prestigious annual event celebrated the power of giving while supporting groundbreaking medical research and patient care at University Health Network (UHN).
One of the evening’s most inspiring highlights was the announcement of an extraordinary $35-million gift from the Ajmera family to University Health Network, bringing their cumulative contributions to an impressive $62 million.
This remarkable donation will establish the Ajmera Transplant Institute, a transformative initiative designed to advance transplantation, research, innovation and education on a global scale.
With their cumulative giving reaching $62 million, the Ajmera family becomes the largest known single-family philanthropic donor to transplant medicine globally.
The Ajmera Transplant Institute: Transforming the Future of Transplant Medicine
The newly established Ajmera Transplant Institute will create a world-class global hub for transplantation, bringing together the full spectrum of transplant care, research, innovation and education under one roof.
The institute will help accelerate discoveries, foster collaboration among leading medical experts and advance innovative treatments that have the potential to transform and save countless lives.
This visionary investment represents an important milestone in the future of transplant medicine and reinforces UHN’s reputation as a global leader in medical research and innovation.
Meet Sam Ajmera: Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Visionary
Behind this extraordinary philanthropic legacy is Soham (Sam) Ajmera, a successful Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist whose remarkable journey is an inspiring story of ambition, perseverance and giving back.
Born in Mumbai, India, Sam immigrated to Canada in 1974 after completing his MBA. Within days of graduation, he launched his first business, Dough Delight.
Under his leadership, Dough Delight grew into one of Canada’s most successful bakery companies before being sold to Canada Bread in 1994.
Sam later mentored and supported his sons, Ojus and Tejus Ajmera, as they established FGF Brands in 2004.
Today, FGF Group of Companies has grown into Canada’s largest industrial baker, employing more than 10,000 people across North America. Its portfolio includes well-known food brands such as Stonefire®, ACE®, Wonder® and Country Harvest®.
Beyond his business achievements, Sam Ajmera’s commitment to philanthropy reflects a deep belief in supporting initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
The Ajmera family’s extraordinary contribution to UHN is another testament to that commitment.
Grand Cru: An Evening That Makes a Difference
Since its inception, the UHN Grand Cru 2026 Culinary Wine Festival has brought together some of the world’s most celebrated culinary and wine personalities alongside generous supporters who share a passion for advancing healthcare.
Through the years, this prestigious fundraising event has raised more than $174 million to support world-leading research, medical innovation and patient care at University Health Network.
The generosity of its donors and supporters continues to fuel groundbreaking discoveries, advance medical treatments and strengthen UHN’s position as Canada’s No. 1 hospital.
The 2026 celebration was another outstanding example of how philanthropy, community spirit and visionary leadership can come together to create a lasting impact.
UHN Leadership and VIPs in Attendance
The distinguished evening welcomed several prominent leaders from University Health Network and the UHN Foundation, including:
- Dr. Deepali Kumar – Medical Director, Ajmera Transplant Centre, UHN
- Julie Quenneville – CEO, UHN Foundation
- Dr. Kevin Smith – President and CEO, University Health Network
Their presence highlighted the importance of collaboration between medical leadership, philanthropic partners and the wider community in shaping the future of healthcare.
University Health Network: Advancing Healthcare for a Healthier World
With the inspiring vision of A Healthier World, University Health Network is dedicated to transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery and learning.
Recognized as Canada’s No. 1 hospital and the world’s No. 1 publicly funded hospital, UHN is a leading force in medical research, education and patient care.
Its network includes 10 sites and more than 20,000 members of TeamUHN, bringing together:
- Toronto General Hospital
- Toronto Western Hospital
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
- The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
- West Park Healthcare Centre
The extraordinary scope of UHN’s research programs and the complexity of the cases treated at its hospitals have established the organization as a national and international leader in healthcare discovery and innovation.
UHN’s Groundbreaking Achievements in Transplant Medicine
University Health Network continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in transplantation, achieving medical milestones that are changing lives around the world.
Some of its remarkable accomplishments include:
- A Canadian first in heart transplantation: Performing Canada’s first heart transplant using donation after death by circulatory criteria.
- Pioneering living organ donation: Establishing the world’s first Centre for Living Organ Donation.
- Advancing Type 1 diabetes treatment: Transplanting lab-grown insulin-producing cells in a landmark international clinical trial, enabling participants to live without insulin injections at the one-year follow-up.
- Leading the way in organ preservation: Becoming a global leader in organ preservation, transplant innovation and ex-vivo perfusion, a technology developed at UHN.
- An extraordinary five-organ transplant: Successfully performing a rare five-organ transplant, demonstrating exceptional surgical expertise and medical innovation.
- Record-breaking transplant numbers: Performing a remarkable 820 transplants in 2025–26, including more lung transplants than any other centre in the world.
- Pioneering transplant oncology: Making significant advances in treating cancer through transplantation, including using living-donor liver transplantation to treat patients with otherwise incurable liver metastases for the first time in North America.
These achievements demonstrate how research, innovation and exceptional medical expertise can redefine the possibilities of modern medicine.
A Night of Generosity, Inspiration and Hope
The UHN Grand Cru 2026 Culinary Wine Festival was much more than an elegant celebration of fine food and exceptional wines. It was an inspiring reminder of what can be accomplished when visionary philanthropists, medical leaders and passionate supporters unite behind a common purpose.
The Ajmera family’s extraordinary $35-million gift and the establishment of the Ajmera Transplant Institute represent a powerful investment in the future of healthcare and the lives of patients around the world.
As UHN continues to lead the way in transplant medicine and groundbreaking medical discoveries, the generosity celebrated at Grand Cru will help pave the way for new possibilities, innovative treatments and renewed hope for generations to come.
Here’s to philanthropy that transforms lives, medical innovation that changes the future, and a healthier world for everyone!
Let’s Get Social!
Follow University Health Network Foundation for the latest news, inspiring stories and updates on its fundraising initiatives and medical breakthroughs.
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/uhnfoundation
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/uhn.foundation
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uhnfoundation
Website: https://www.uhn.ca
Keywords UHN Grand Cru 2026 Culinary Wine Festival, Ajmera Transplant Institute, Ajmera family $35 million donation, University Health Network Toronto, UHN Foundation, Transplant medicine innovation, Sam Ajmera philanthropy, Toronto charity events 2026, Medical research and innovation in Canada
© 2026 TorontoArtsandEvents. Article AI Assisted. All Rights Reserved. Reference: Press Releases.
