On February 15, 2001 Leslie C. Quick, Jr. surprised all in attendance at The AIF Palm Beach Dinner Gala, by announcing a $1,000,000 gift to the Fund to fight cancer in Ireland.

Mr. Quick’s gift, he explained was due to the medical assistance he had recently received while in County Cork. He was impressed by the medical staff’s dedication and kindness, despite the apparent lack of facilities. What most in the audience did not know was that Mr. Quick was specifically earmarking this money to fight cancer because that was the disease he was battling, even as he spoke.

After his death a short time later, his widow, Regina Quick and son, Tom Quick began to work with The American Ireland Fund to find a worthy recipient of Mr. Quick’s largess. They undertook to identify a world-class medical enterprise in Ireland, dedicated to effectively fighting cancer. It did not take long for them to come upon the Cork Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) located within the University College Cork.

Mrs. Quick and Tom Quick met with Professor Gerry O’Sullivan, Director of the CCRC, and came to see the unique value of the work he was doing in the West of Ireland and also of its transferability and potential eventual benefit to cancer research in America. According to Prof. O’Sullivan, “All of our leaders in cancer services and research have significant experience in the US, so it is fitting to say that your support for research here in Cork might be deemed to be an investment in an overseas extension of US cancer research.

The Quicks recognized that this was just exactly the type of synergy which Mr. Quick would have desired: finding and funding cancer research in the land of his heritage, with the additional benefit of potentially also helping those in America.

That brings us to August 13, 2004, when the Leslie C. Quick Jr. Laboratory of the Cork Cancer Research Centre was officially opened at University College Cork. This special day for the Quick Family began most fittingly with a Mass in Celebration of the Life of Leslie C. Quick, Jr. at the University’s Honan Chapel. Following Mass, the family toured the UCC campus to the new BioSciences Institute overlooking the river Lee. It was there that Mrs. Regina Quick officially opened the Leslie Quick Laboratory. Family and guests then spent some time in the brand new, purpose built Quick Lab, meeting members of the academic staff and discussing the cancer research which could now be undertaken as a direct result of the Quick family’s generosity. The family also took the opportunity to meet with current UCC students who will be fortunate enough to work and study in the Lab.

The gathering then moved to the North Wing of UCC’s beautiful quadrangle, which dates back to 1845, for a reception and dinner in the historic University Common Room. It was at this point that Tom Quick spoke on behalf of his mother and family to express their gratitude for the hospitality and welcome shown to them at UCC. He described his father so clearly and in such a way to allow all in attendance to gain insight into this tremendously loving, successful and generous man who had the initial vision to share some of his success to benefit Ireland in such a way. Tom Quick also spoke of the historic physical beauty and cutting-edge academic prowess which exist side-by-side on the grounds of UCC. Finally, he said it was his family’s wish to return to the University in the future to learn of the growth, accomplishments and evolution of the Quick Laboratory.

In response, UCC President, Prof. Gerry Wrixon praised Leslie Quick as an entrepreneur, a man of vision and commitment who cherished his family and took his responsibilities seriously. He was a philanthropist who believed in sharing his success, never forgetting those less fortunate than he. President Wrixon expressed the honor that the university felt for having been chosen as the vehicle that the Quick family selected to memorialize Leslie Quick and explained the vital role that relationships like these play in allowing universities to grow and to fulfil their academic, practical and societal mission.

The story of the founding of the Leslie C. Quick Laboratory at UCC is indeed the tale of a family’s generosity, dedication and vision. It is also a shining example of Social Philanthropists at their very best. Led by Regina Quick and Tom Quick, the family undertook to work with The AIF to find the most suitable practical expression of Leslie Quick’s generosity. Partnerships such as this, with a clear societal purpose and the funding to realize their goals is wonderful collaboration which builds on the philanthropic spirit of Fund supporters and the expertise of the AIF to identify and benefit deserving projects throughout Ireland.

Each year The American Ireland Fund proudly commemorates the business and philanthropic legacy of Mr. Quick by presenting The Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Leadership Award to a business person of outstanding character and acumen. In this way the Fund seeks to keep the memory of Mr. Quick and the dedication of his family as active and positive influences in the life of the Fund. The winner of the 2005 Award, Phil Purcell, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley, will be presented his award at the New York dinner of the AIF on May 5, 2005.