National Bank Provides $8-Million Gift: The Largest in its History

Montreal, October 5, 2011— National Bank is giving $8 million to the Joint Corporate Campaign of the Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) and the McGill University Health Centre Foundation (MUHC). Announced today, the donation will support the Montreal projects’ goals of enhancing academic medicine, including research. Both centres will be able to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and create ultramodern facilities so as to better meet current and future healthcare needs. “Whether we are talking about our clients, our employees or the members of the communities we serve, everyone realizes that these projects are important. In addition to supporting health care improvements, they will boost both Montreal’s and Quebec’s economic and social development.”

“National Bank is proud to donate $8 million to the CHUM and MUHC foundations’ joint campaign; it is the largest gift in our history,” declared Louis Vachon, the National Bank’s president and chief executive officer. “Whether we are talking about our clients, our employees or the members of the communities we serve, everyone realizes that these projects are important. In addition to supporting health care improvements, they will boost both Montreal’s and Quebec’s economic and social development.”

“Fifteen years after the founding of the CHUM, we continue to reach for the pinnacles of science and academics in order to offer our patients the best care,” noted Christian Paire, the CHUM’s director general and chief executive officer. “Such care is also guaranteed by partnerships, such as the one we’re announcing today, which allow us to pursue our quest for excellence in teaching and in research.”

“National Bank’s contribution exemplifies the trust and generosity of our community, which we intend to repay with world-class care, research and teaching,” stated the Honourable Arthur T. Porter, the MUHC’s director general and chief executive officer. “The redevelopment of our hospitals is well underway and will assure that our healthcare professionals have the modern tools to do their best work while our patients have comfortable, family-accessible rooms to support their treatment.” 

A clear message to the Quebec business community
This generous donation to the joint corporate campaign of the CHUM and MUHC foundations, offered by North America’s strongest bank , represents another step toward ensuring the success of the two most significant healthcare projects in Quebec. It also gives eloquent voice to the faith that’s being invested in these projects.

“We want to express our sincere gratitude to National Bank for this exemplary gesture,” remarked Ékram Antoine Rabbat, the Fondation du CHUM’s president and chief executive officer. “In showing such generosity, National Bank is sending a clear message about its desire to help provide a healthy future for all Quebecers and its support for the Fondation du CHUM. As a key player in Quebec’s economic and social development, National Bank is and has been for many years a major partner with whom we share a vision: to offer patients top-quality personalized care in an environment promoting innovative research and teaching,” he concluded.

“This momentous contribution from the National Bank to the joint MUHC and CHUM campaign underscores its leadership role in Quebec society,” declared John Rae, the chairman of the McGill University Health Centre’s The Best Care for Life campaign. Obviously conscious of the relevance and importance of these two major projects in a field as vital as health care, the business community is demonstrating its commitment to the community. We are extremely grateful for National Bank’s big-hearted support.”

“This generous gift from National Bank will give a serious helping hand to Quebec’s health sector,” stated Marc Courtois, the chairman of The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation’s The Best Care for Children campaign, which will benefit from $1.5 million of this gift. “We are very happy to see those at the forefront of the Quebec financial services sector blazing the trail as far as support for our healthcare institutions goes.”