Donor gives $500,000 twice in a week
W IN DSOR, ON T. • He’ l l give away $1 million without hesitation, but don’t expect him to wax poetic about the reasons for his kindness.
Philanthropist Al Quesnel stunned the thankful organizers of two Windsor, Ont.area charities within a week of each other by showing up at each of their fundraising galas with a $ 500,000 cheque in hand. First it was Transition to Betterness on Jan. 27, then In Honour of the Ones We Love on Saturday.
“It is what it is,” Quesnel said Monday. “Life’s short and if you can help people that need it, then you help them. If not, then you just keep it in your bank account and give it to your kids when you die.”
Quesnel went into giving mode several years ago after building a fitness empire that had its humble beginnings with a part- time job at a fitness studio when he was 18. He ended up owning the gym, renamed Total Fitness before he took over, and opened more locations. Quesnel sold Total Fitness in 2001 for $2.5 million.
He also joined forces with another former partner to open The Athletic Club in London, Ont. That quickly grew into a chain boasting 11 locations across Ontario with more t han 60,000 members in London, Kitchener, Guelph, Brantford, Amherstburg, Kingsville, Thunder Bay and Ottawa.
He sold his stake in that company in 2014 and put $ 20 million — which Quesnel has said was about half the proceeds of the sale — into his charitable foundation.
N ow he spreads the wealth wherever he sees the need. He has donated about $ 4 million to projects in Haiti.
Over the last couple years, Quesnel said he has donated about $ 6 million to various other causes.
On Jan. 27, he showed up at the Transition to Betterness annual gala with a $ 500,000 cheque. Quesnel’s donation helped the charity raise a record- setting $ 1 million for programs to comfort patients and families affected by life- altering illnesses.
A week later on Saturday, he appeared at the In Honour of the Ones We Love gala with another $ 500,000 cheque. The donation also helped that charity, which raises money for cancer patient care, more than double its normal take.
Anita Imperioli, president and founder of In Honour of the Ones We Love, said their annual gala usually raises around $325,000. They took in about $350,000 on Saturday. Then Quesnel showed up.
“This year we did extremely well with Al’s donation,” said Imperioli. “It’s going to help us advance our programs, our community. It’s just unbelievable.”
Quesnel said both of the $ 500,000 donations were last minute decisions.
“Why? Because I have it,” he said. “I just know they’re two reputable local organizations that help those who need help.”