Gifts and events energize the campaign
The McGill University Health Centre’s Best Care for Life campaign is now well beyond the halfway mark of its ambitious $300-million target. The generosity of several major campaign donors and the community’s enthusiastic participation in our recent fundraising events have been indispensable in moving us ever closer to our goal.
Extending its venerable philanthropic history and long-time support of the MUHC, the Marjorie and Gerald Bronfman Foundation recently pledged $750,000 to help in the redevelopment of gastroenterology and psychiatry at the Mountain campus. For more on the Bronfman Foundation and the important work being done thanks to their generous gift, look for a feature in our next issue of Health Perspectives.
The Family segment of the Best Care for Life campaign, which aims to involve the MUHC’s own employees in fundraising activities, got a spirited boost this fall from the first annual Run for Your Life. A total of 216 participants and an enthusiastic army of volunteers joined event co-chairs Jim Gates, Aldona Tusas and Joe Sousa on a run or walk through Montreal’s beautiful Angrignon Park on October 20. This inaugural event was a great success, bringing MUHC employees, our foundation partners and the community at large together in support of the campaign.
Under the dynamic leadership of Women’s Health campaign co-chairs Pierrette Wong and Maryse Bertrand, the Women’s Health segment of the Best Care for Life campaign took centre stage at two recent high-profile events. At the Shop a Little, Give a Lot fundraising weekend on September 29 and 30, over 300 retailers at 13 malls from across Greater Montreal donated five percent of their weekend sales to the Women’s Health mission. Championed by glamorous celebrity spokesperson Genevieve Borne, the weekend raised funds and brought a new city-wide awareness to the importance of Women’s Health at the MUHC.
The Women’s Health campaign is also the focus of the fundraising cookbook Montreal Cooks, which was launched at the Mount Royal Club on October 23 to an enthusiastic crowd of chefs, restauranteurs and media. Now on sale at the MUHC Foundation, through the hospital’s auxiliaries and at Jean Coutu pharmacies, Linen Chest outlets and at Chapters, Indigo, Bon Appetit and Nicholas Hoare bookshops, this gorgeous recipe collection has been flying off the shelves, with more than 6,000 copies already sold. To get your copy before they are gone, call the Foundation at 514-931-5656.
With more events on the horizon, with the Joint Corporate Campaign with the CHUM Foundation moving ahead, and thanks to the continued support of our donors, we look forward to providing you with even more exciting news in the coming months. For the latest campaign information or to make your gift now contact the Foundation at 514-931-5656.
