UBC Athletics and Recreation is proud to announce the creation of the Marilyn Pomfret Memorial Award for Women in Athletics, through a transformative gift honouring the legacy of a true trailblazer for women athletes at UBC. As the largest donation ever dedicated to supporting women athletes in UBC’s history, this endowment will empower the next generation of Thunderbird women athletes and coaches.

The Marilyn Pomfret Memorial Award for Women in Athletics has been made possible by a $1-million dollar donation by UBC graduate and philanthropist, Lynda Hamilton. Hamilton is a dedicated supporter of many philanthropic causes, including UBC, and specifically the UBC women’s hockey team. She is well known as a preeminent supporter of the Canadian performing arts, and has even received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for her efforts.

“Raising funds for our women varsity athletes, and supporting the development of more women coaches, is a priority for UBC Athletics, “says Kavie Toor, Managing Director, UBC Athletics & Recreation.

“This incredible gift from Lynda Hamilton is a strategic investment in the future of women’s athletics, and it will have an immediate impact on closing the gap and helping create gender parity for our athletes. In addition to providing scholarships, this endowment will also be dedicated to enhancing funding to provide more opportunities for the development of female coaches.”

Lynda Hamilton, together with UBC Athletics and Recreation, chose to name this endowment after Marilyn Pomfret, a former teacher, coach and athletic director at UBC. Marilyn made an indelible mark on the landscape of women’s sport serving as UBC’s Women’s Athletic Director from 1963 to 1969 and again from 1972 to 1986.

As UBC historian Fred Hume says, “for those who knew Marilyn—she was inspirational, she was feisty, she didn’t back down, and she crossed swords with some of the biggest hitters in Canadian sport.”

During her time at the helm, Marilyn lobbied tirelessly for increased opportunities and funding for women athletes, advocating for the expansion of programs and the establishment of national championships. Her leadership at UBC saw the rise of women’s volleyball, gymnastics, track and field, basketball, swimming, diving, and field hockey teams as powerhouses in the 1970s.

“Marilyn was a quiet, modest force, always looking for a way to contribute something significant to her profession and her community,” shares Lynne Pomfret, step-daughter to Marilyn.

“She was unselfish with her time and believed hard work and commitment could bring about real change. Marilyn was dedicated to championing women’s athletics and she would be overjoyed to know that year after year, UBC’s female athletes will be supported in her name.”

Marilyn passed away in 2019 and her legacy is able to continue at UBC through this new endowment as well as the Marilyn Pomfret Trophy, which is presented annually to UBC’s outstanding female athlete of the year.

Despite significant strides in recent years, women’s athletics continue to face challenges, including unequal opportunities and limited resources. The Marilyn Pomfret Memorial Award for Women in Athletics will help address these challenges by providing critical financial support for women athletes at UBC, ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed both on and off the field of play.

“Over the past 25 years I’ve spent at UBC, as an athlete, assistant coach and now administrator – I’ve seen our dedication to women’s athletics transform from aspiration to action,” says Sarah Barclay, Senior Director, Development & Alumni Engagement. “We are so grateful to Lynda Hamilton for sharing this vision. We can’t thank her enough for making such a crucial investment in our future leaders. This endowment she has established will empower UBC Athletics and Recreation to further elevate women’s sports and create even more opportunities for female student-athletes and coaches.”