It is estimated that 15.5 million Americans with a history of cancer were alive on January 1, 2016, according to a 2018 report from the American Cancer Society. Cancer is a challenge encountered by many individuals in the world today, and it is one of the leading causes of death in both Canada and the United States.

The battle to eradicate cancer is one that Peter Nygard takes very seriously: “Breast cancer has been our major charity theme for 25 years. It’s a disease that affects our customers, so we will continue to fund research and development” (Peter Nygard).

So what does 25 years of giving add up to? More than 20 million dollars. Some business owners are known to be pretty philanthropic; however, Peter Nygard’s giving of twenty million dollars of profits to a cause on behalf of his company’s customers is really generous.

Archive pictures show that in 2003 alone Peter Nygard gave over a million dollars to cancer research and eradication. One picture shows a check for $650,000 being presented to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and another shows a check for $400,000 being presented to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.

Here are some of the projects established, sponsorships given and organizations who received cancer-related donations from Peter Nygard.

- Establishment of Nygard International Molecular Biology Breast Cancer Research Unit
- Establishment of Manitoba Breast Tumour Bank
- Establishment of an Endowment Fund
- Breast Cancer Research
- CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
- National Breast Cancer Foundation
- Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
- Run for the Cure
- Mobile Mammography Unit

He funded a rural program aimed at reaching more people. Peter Nygard purchased a vehicle for a traveling mammography unit that goes out to remote areas in the Province of Manitoba to provide testing to those who might otherwise not have access. “Essentially, we’re there all the way from diagnosis to cure” (Peter Nygard).

Nygard also donated money raised through the sales of his popular SLIMs line and fashion show tickets over the years. One of Peter Nygard’s most recent donations was at his 50th Anniversary gala night, where he donated $100,000 for breast cancer research, which he does every year.

For his generosity and partnership on projects for cancer awareness, cancer research and cancer eradication, Peter Nygard has received numerous awards from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and other organizations.