Building a Stronger McGill

It’s hard to find an area at McGill in which Ian Pilarczyk, BA’92, LLM’92, DCL’03, has not been involved. A longtime volunteer and key member of the Campaign Boston committee, Dr. Pilarczyk has given back since 1992 to multiple areas across McGill, including law, music, management, social work, religious studies, education, arts, and the McGill Library. Recently, he has made leadership gifts in support of research in legal methodology, as well as a graduate award in law. He has supported student aid, including partnering with his parents’ family foundation to fund an MBA fellowship, open to students in any faculty with preference given to those of Polish descent.

As if that weren’t enough, Pilarczyk has also donated a unique collection of McGill memorabilia: medals, theatre programs, McGill publicity images over the ages, and postcards of the downtown campus in the 19th and 20th centuries.

What motivates this zeal for McGill? “It’s a very special, even quasi-magical place to me,” states Pilarczyk. “McGill challenged me intellectually, and I met many truly luminous intellects over the years, which was as enriching as it was humbling.”

Now Director of the Executive LLM in International Business Law Program at the Boston University School of Law, Pilarczyk remains passionate about supporting McGill in every possible way. “The alumni network has been a delight to be immersed in,” he says. “If you live near an alumni branch, but don’t participate in at least the occasional alumni event, I think you’re really missing out!”

Pilarczyk also advises his fellow McGillians to donate to the University “in whatever way gives you the most satisfaction. Gifts of all sizes add up when pooled together – and ultimately, we all benefit from a strong McGill.”