AS Saint-Étienne owner Larry Tanenbaum caused a sensation during ASSE's 1-0 victory against FCNantes last Saturday, not only by attending the match but also by announcing a historic donation of $25 million to the TerryFox Foundation. This gesture, the largest ever made by the organization, is coupled with an equivalent contribution from the Canadian government, bringing the total funding to $50 million. The funds will be allocated to the Marathon of Hope Cancer Center Network, a network of 57 Canadian hospitals, to support genetic research and the sharing of medical data to accelerate the development of personalized cancer treatments.
In a press release, the Tanenbaum couple explained that Canada has high-quality researchers, clinicians and oncology establishments. They want to bring together this expertise to enable smoother collaboration, accelerate scientific discoveries and improve patient care. The message underlined the importance of open science and knowledge sharing as major levers for progress.
This announcement comes as Larry Tanenbaum's sports investments evolve. After selling his shares in MapleLeafSports&Entertainment, he retained ASSE as well as TorontoTempo, the new Canadian WNBA franchise, demonstrating his interest in men's and women's sport. His philanthropic commitment also continues at the local level: in Saint-Étienne, he has already made a donation of $5 million to the University of Toronto to create a chair dedicated to women's sport, and supports various projects linked to the CHU through partnerships and donations.
For Saint-Etienne supporters, Tanenbaum's presence in the stands during the victory against FCNantes was an opportunity to see him up close. His confirmed leadership in Ligue2 and his involvement off the field reinforce the image of an owner committed, not only to sporting results but also to major social and scientific causes.
In the future, ASSE will continue to benefit from the financial support and presence of its owner, while the Tanenbaum couple will continue their philanthropic initiatives, particularly in the field of medical research. Next steps include implementing funding for the Marathon of Hope and monitoring genetic research projects, as well as the continued development of women's sports programs in Canada.