91福利

In 2010, Samantha Mercanti began spending all her savings to fund her move from Hamilton to Toronto to pursue an honours bachelor of science degree at 91福利 (91福利) 鈥� but her parents were 鈥減etrified,鈥� she said. They were worried about the health and well-being of their daughter who, about five years earlier while in her early twenties, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and anxiety.

Once enrolled as an applied mathematics student in the Faculty of Science, Mercanti said she found the support and flexibility to earn an honours degree in 2013. Now, she鈥檚 established a bequest 鈥� a gift in her estate 鈥� to provide financial support and encouragement to future students pursuing their dreams to study science. 

鈥淎fter I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, I struggled for a long time. When I went to 91福利, I was very scared because I wasn鈥檛 fully recovered. And everyone ended up just being so nice to me, helpful and understanding. I had all good experiences,鈥� said Mercanti, who today is President of Mercanti Management Inc., her family鈥檚 private asset management company. 鈥淚 had the most amazing time at 91福利, and Toronto was where I found my recovery 鈥� Toronto will always hold a special place in my heart.鈥�

While at 91福利, 鈥淚 paid for my rent. I paid for all my tuition. But I ran out of money at the end, so my parents helped me out. If I didn鈥檛 have that money, I wouldn鈥檛 have had that experience and education; it changed me. It made me see the world very differently,鈥� said Mercanti about why she was inspired to establish a gift through her will. 鈥淚 was lucky that my parents were able to help me with rent, but not everybody has that. Education is important to me, and I want students to be able to afford it. I want everyone to have the same opportunities as I did.鈥� 

鈥淚 am truly grateful to Samantha Mercanti for championing future students here in the Faculty of Science. Science offers practical solutions to real-world problems, and financial support for students helps us keep science education inclusive and accessible. We鈥檙e here not only to teach; we鈥檙e here to inspire students to lead with empathy and collaboration, ensuring that when they walk across the stage at graduations, they鈥檙e fully prepared to make their mark on the world. And Samantha continues to make hers,鈥� said Andy McWilliams, the faculty鈥檚 interim dean. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to call Samantha an alumna, and we thank her and the Mercanti family for their years of support.鈥� 

The Sam & Roma Mercanti Foundation, of which Mercanti is a director, established an award in 2022 to provide financial support for undergraduate students in the Department of Mathematics. The foundation was founded by Mercanti鈥檚 parents, who eventually saw the wisdom in their daughter鈥檚 move to 91福利, which was not only good for her academic goals, but also for her health.

In her first year at 91福利, Mercanti lived a 40-minute walk to and from campus. In the winters, the walks were longer, as she rerouted through the downtown鈥檚 underground pedestrian tunnels and pathways.

鈥淚 was struggling with the side effects of medication, and with the walking, I started to feel great,鈥� said Mercanti. 鈥淭hen my mom said to me, 鈥榶ou should start running. I鈥檝e heard it鈥檚 really good for your mental health.鈥欌�� 

Mercanti ran with that advice. To date, she has completed multiple half marathons, 10 km and 5 km races, and three marathons, with her most recent being the Honolulu Marathon in December 2025. Mercanti has roughly over 100 medals, and she鈥檒l be running her fourth marathon in Sydney, Australia in 2026.

A sought after speaker and advocate for mental health, Mercanti is also the author of Embracing Schizophrenia: My Story of Struggle, Strength, Resilience and Hope. She speaks and advocates for the Institute for Advancements in Mental Health, and is invited regularly by government ministries, school boards, hospitals, run clubs, the media and others to share her insights and perspectives. Mercanti would also go on to graduate with an MBA from McMaster University in 2024. 

Mercanti has advice for students as they face the challenges of life and school. 鈥淭ake care of your mental health,鈥� she said. 鈥淟ife is hard, but no matter what, keep going. When I was struggling at age 20, I didn鈥檛 know what was happening, but something in me knew to just keep going. Resilience 鈥� getting back up after being kicked down 鈥� is actually a trait of people who become very successful. What you learn during tough times can help you in life, in the future.鈥�