# Joyce Young > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joyce_Young > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joyce_Young.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Young > Source revision: 1335192348 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Joyce Young** (9 February 1926 – 19 September 2023) was a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) woman famous for a single act of [philanthropy](/source/Philanthropy), a donation of CAD$40 million to the Hamilton Community Foundation in 2000[citation needed]. She is the wife of Bill Young, a retired [Major](/source/Major_(Canada)) in the [Canadian Armed Forces](/source/Canadian_Armed_Forces) and the aunt of [Red Hat, Inc.](/source/Red_Hat) founder [Bob Young](/source/Bob_Young_(businessman)). ## Early life Young was born Frances Joyce Ferrie in Hamilton on 9 February 1926. Bill Young graduated from [Hillfield Strathallan College](/source/Hillfield_Strathallan_College) in 1935 and Joyce graduated from Hillfield in 1943. After graduating, Bill served in the Canadian military during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), serving in [England](/source/England), [Italy](/source/Italy), and northwest Europe. The couple met after Bill returned from the war.[1] Joyce left [The University of Toronto](/source/The_University_of_Toronto) to become a full-time home-maker. The couple had three children. ## Red Hat, Inc. Young and her husband Bill Young, both residents of [Ancaster, Ontario](/source/Ancaster,_Ontario),[2] opted to help their nephew Bob with his high-tech venture shortly after its founding in 1993. Bob's company, Red Hat, Inc., is one dedicated to open source software such as [Red Hat Linux](/source/Red_Hat_Linux), and the proprietary [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/source/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux). When Red Hat's stock rose significantly after its [initial public offering](/source/Initial_public_offering) in 1999, the elder Youngs were able to sell enough [stock](/source/Stock) to recoup their initial investment, but chose to retain some stocks. Joyce was quoted as saying, "While I respect Bob as a businessman, I quite honestly never thought I'd see my money again. I really just wanted to support him. After holding the company's stock for three years, I took out my original investment, and left some money in just for fun." By January 2000, the remaining stock was valued in the millions. This enabled Joyce to make a donation of [CAD$](/source/Canadian_dollar)40 million in June 2000, to the [Hamilton Community Foundation](/source/Hamilton_Community_Foundation). The money was given for the purpose of improving [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton,_Ontario)-area health facilities. This act represented one of the largest charitable donations in Canadian history. A long-time [volunteer](/source/Volunteering) with local community groups, Joyce later stated her biggest concern was in giving away the money responsibly. Joyce Young died on 19 September 2023 at the age of 97.[3] ## Projects - $50,000 was donated to Hillfield Strathallan College. - $50,000 was donated for the beautification of the [Royal Military College of Canada](/source/Royal_Military_College_of_Canada) Memorial Arch.[4] - $50,000 was donated to the [Juno Beach Centre](/source/Juno_Beach_Centre).[4] Established by 2552 Major (Ret'd) Bill Young (RMC 1936) and Joyce Young, the J.D. Young Memorial lecture, a speech given at the [Royal Military College of Canada](/source/Royal_Military_College_of_Canada), as well as other activities by the [Young Memorial Visitor](/source/Honorary_title_(academic)), honour the memories of 2360 Major John Douglas Young (RMC 1937) who was [killed in action](/source/Killed_in_action) on [D-Day](/source/D-Day), and his father, Maj.-Gen. James V. Young (RMC 1911). Major Doug Young, having no known grave, is commemorated in the Bayeux Memorial in [Calvados](/source/Calvados_(department)). ## References 1. ["Deep Roots"](http://www.hillstrath.on.ca/news-room/publications/hillstrath-review/HSReview_Winter%202004.pdf). Vol. 4. Hillstrath Review. Fall 2004. p. 6. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071020133253/http://www.hillstrath.on.ca/news-room/publications/hillstrath-review/HSReview_Winter%202004.pdf) October 20, 2007 at the Wayback Machine. 1. ["A Gift With Potential To Transform - The Young Fund"](http://www.hcf.on.ca/pages/news/newsarchive/2001/youngfund.htm). Hamilton Community Foundation News. Spring 2000. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070930105411/http://www.hcf.on.ca/pages/news/newsarchive/2001/youngfund.htm) September 30, 2007 at the Wayback Machine. 1. ["Obituary"](https://www.humphreymiles.com/obituaries/Frances-Joyce-Young?obId=29156597). *Humphrey Miles Funeral Home*. Retrieved 23 June 2025. 1. ["Grants 2001-2002"](http://www.hcf.on.ca/pages/grants/donoradvised/donoradvised01_02.htm#twentyone). Hamilton Community Foundation. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20050505140445/http://www.hcf.on.ca/pages/grants/donoradvised/donoradvised01_02.htm#twentyone) May 5, 2005 at the Wayback Machine. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joyce Young](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Young) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Young?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.