Council 2001 – recipient of Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Manitoba Chapter 2001 – recipient of Winnipeg Philanthropist of the Year Award 2002 – awarded Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal 2004 (posthumous) – received a lifetime achievement award from the Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada. 2014 (posthumous) – a stretch of road in front of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights was named Israel Asper Way. Honorary titles and degrees 1985 – Honorary Fellow, Hebrew University of Jerusalem 1986 – Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Militia 1997 – Honorary Chairman of the Board, Asper Jewish Community Campus 1997 – Honorary Chairman of the Board, Asper Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Manitoba 1998 – Honorary Doctor of Laws and Letters, University of Manitoba 1999 – Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem 2002 – Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, McMaster University, Montreal The Asper Foundation The Asper Foundation is a philanthropic organization in Winnipeg. Claiming to be founded on the Jewish philosophies of tzedakah ('charitable giving') and tikkun olam ('repair of the world'), the Foundation provides general support to Winnipeg's Jewish community as well as supporting the broader community, particularly in western Canada, in areas of culture, education, medical research, community development, and human rights. The Asper Foundation received its heraldic emblem by the Canadian Heraldic Authority in January 2003. As of 2019, the Foundation has $192 million in assets, and is one of Canada’s largest private foundations. The Foundation was established in 1983 by Israel and Babs Asper, created from the wealth they had generated via CanWest, to build upon theirs and their family’s philanthropic endeavours. In 1997, to focus on this philanthropy, Israel Asper resigned as CEO of CanWest, remaining as Executive Chairman instead. Beneficiaries Some initiatives in Winnipeg supported by the Foundation include the Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program, the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba, the Asper Jewish Community Campus, the Saint Boniface Hospital Clinical Research Institute, Winnipeg Harvest, the Lyric Theatre in Assiniboine Park, and several programs with the United Way in Winnipeg. On 22 November 2000, the Foundation donated $10 million each to The Winnipeg Foundation and the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. In October 2019, the Foundation announced a gift of CA$5-million to the University of Manitoba to establish the "Asper Foundation Entrance Bursary," a $1,000 entrance bursary program