Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Midnight Cirque gala raised $1.16 million net to help build and equip Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and enhance care at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. The gala celebrated the generosity of more than 1,100 community, health and business leaders across York Region and Greater Toronto Area and was joined by municipal and provincial governmental leaders, including the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario.
Hosted by Stella Acquisto and Melanie Ng from Breakfast Television and presented by Rogers for the seventh year, the 31stannual gala featured a “cirque” theme and included high-stakes performances from aerialists, stilt walkers, fire blowers, contortionists, live music and much more.
Following an incredible year, Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign co-chairs, Greg Sorbara and the Honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of the City of Vaughan recognized the latest transformational donors who have made gifts of $1 million or more to the campaign in the past year. This includes a $20-million gift from the De Gasperis and Kohn families – the largest gift in Mackenzie Health Foundation’s history. It will support building and equipping the Giovanni De Gasperis ♦ Eugene Kohn Learning Centre at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital which will be the most technologically advanced education facility within a Canadian community hospital, featuring clinical teaching and simulation labs, conference and learning spaces and a state-of-the-art auditorium for transformative and large-scale health care forums, complete with high-tech innovations.
In total, 31 donors have made transformational gifts to the campaign to-date including this distinguished list of supporters also recognized at this year’s Gala: Alectra Inc., BMO Financial Group, the Greenbaum Family; the Gucciardi Family; Goffredo and Robert Vitullo Family; Christopher and Franca Zeppa and Family; John A. D’Angelo, Giuseppe Maio and Claudio Memme; Joe Zanchin Family and Zanchin Auto Group; Carlo and Angela Baldassarra Family; Vaughan Health Campus of Care and Michael De Gasperis, Chair and Vaughan Health Care Foundation, Sam Ciccolini, Chair.
The live auction featured an equipment appeal which raised a tremendous $66,000 to help purchase ten mobile telemetry units with central monitoring systems which supports patients who require constant monitoring. At Mackenzie Health, this amounts to approximately 1,000 – 1,200 patients each month, and growing. It also helps ensure front-line emergency staff have the life-saving tools they need to provide the best possible care.
For patients and families in York Region, world-class health care close to home could not be more important. Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital alongside its community-based locations will care for one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, expected to grow by 25 per cent between 2012-2027.
QUOTES
“As we reflect on the past year and all we have achieved together, we’re honoured to celebrate the generosity of our community partners, leaders and donors at this prestigious event. Truly, it could not be more inspiring to see a community united in enriching the health and wellness of York Region. The generosity, leadership and kindness of our community will make an impact felt for decades to come.”
- INGRID PERRY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MACKENZIE HEALTH FOUNDATION
“This is a time of great excitement and growth for York Region and we are deeply appreciative of our community partners and donors who support our shared vision for world-class care close to home. With a growing community comes increased health needs and we’re honoured to celebrate those who have made a transformational impact in building a healthier community.”
- ALTAF STATIONWALA, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MACKENZIE HEALTH
“Building the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is about investing in the health and wellbeing of our citizens and ensuring we all have access to the best possible front-line healthcare for generations to come. As co-chair of the $250-million Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Exceptional Care Belongs Here Campaign, I am in awe of the generosity that thrives throughout this community. I am proud to announce that we have raised an astonishing $113-million and we remain very confident to reach our goal. The ongoing construction of the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is an example of what we can achieve when we work together. As we move closer to completion, I want to congratulate everyone who has helped to bring us this far.”
- THE HONOURABLE MAURIZIO BEVILACQUA, MAYOR OF VAUGHAN AND CO-CHAIR OF THE EXCEPTIONAL CARE BELONGS HERE CAMPAIGN
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ABOUT MACKENZIE HEALTH AND MACKENZIE HEALTH FOUNDATION
Mackenzie Health is a dynamic regional health care provider which includes the existing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, as well as a comprehensive network of community-based services. In March 2017, the organization received its second consecutive award of Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada for its commitment to safety and quality patient care. This is the highest rating a Canadian health care provider can receive. Guided by a vision to create a world-class health experience, Mackenzie Health has an unrelenting focus on the patient and is dedicated to patient needs now and in the future. With over 500,000 residents in Southwest York Region, Mackenzie Health is proud to serve one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in Canada. For more information, please visit mackenziehealth.com
The Mackenzie Health Foundation is spearheading the Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign – the largest fundraising drive ever led by a community hospital in Canada – which is committed to raising $250 million in community contributions toward the total $1.6-billion project cost of the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. Since 1977, Mackenzie Health Foundation has raised more than $142 million for capital projects, medical equipment, technology and educational opportunities for Mackenzie Health. For more information, please visit mackenziehealthfoundation.ca
Media Contact:
Michelle Stegnar
Senior Communications Consultant, Mackenzie Health
905-883-1212 ext. 7484 | michelle.stegnar@mackenziehealth.ca