Gala supports $250-million fundraising campaign – the largest to date for a community hospital in Canada
Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Around the World Gala raised $1.16 million to help build and equip the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital — Canada’s first smart hospital — and enhance care at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital.
The 32nd annual gala, presented by Rogers for the eighth consecutive year, celebrated the contributions of the 1,100 community leaders from across York Region who attended, alongside government representatives, including Premier Doug Ford, King-Vaughan MPP and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, and City of Vaughan Mayor, Maurizio Bevilacqua.
Back for a second year, co-chairs Milena Calabro and Stephanie Pillitteri welcomed guests to an international experience, featuring cuisine from some of the most popular gastronomic destinations around the world. Guests feasted on dishes from China, Mexico, Brazil, Morocco and Italy while enjoying performances by a mariachi band, samba dancers and Chinese lion dancers.
Mayor Bevilacqua — who is also the chair of Mackenzie Health’s newly launched Ultimate campaign — delivered an inspiring speech and recognized the most recent donors to contribute $1 million or more to the campaign this past year. The Ultimate campaign represents a new phase of Mackenzie Health’s $250-million campaign journey and encourages the community to help bring the ultimate in health care to the residents of Vaughan, Richmond Hill and King. The campaign has raised $169 million so far. Among those recognized at the gala was the Cortellucci family, who made a $40-million gift, the largest single donation in Mackenzie Health’s history.
To date, 37 transformational gifts have been made to the campaign. This remarkable list of supporters was also recognized on Saturday evening: Antonio & Clara Battistella & Family, CIBC, R. Ferri Automotive, Scotiabank and Promenade Shopping Centre.
Throughout the night, guests had the opportunity to bid on more than 280 silent auction items, and one lucky raffle winner drove away in a 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia TI RWD (valued at nearly $70,000), generously donated by R. Ferri Automotive.
This year’s live auction featured an equipment appeal that raised more than $148,000 for infant incubators. New incubators will help save the lives of high-risk and premature babies at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, where the Woman and Child program will soon be located. Last year, 325 babies were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mackenzie Health and this number will only increase as the community continues to grow.
QUOTES
“This is an exciting time for our region and we’re grateful for all of the support we continue to receive from our generous community. Every day we get one step closer to opening the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and enhancing care at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and we simply couldn’t do it without our donors.”
- ALTAF STATIONWALA, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MACKENZIE HEALTH
“This has been an incredible year and we have accomplished so much together as we gear up to open the first net new hospital in our region in three decades. The turnout at our annual gala is a clear demonstration of the commitment from our community members to ensure that everyone has access to the ultimate in health care, right here at Mackenzie Health.”
- KRISTA FINLAY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MACKENZIE HEALTH FOUNDATION
“Building Canada’s first smart hospital is a labour of love. I want to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone who has embraced the spirit of generosity. As a result of our team effort, we will be able to provide access to modern, state-of-the-art health care to our community. Over the years, we have demonstrated what can be achieved when we collectively focus on the greater good.”
- THE HON. MAURIZIO BEVILACQUA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VAUGHAN AND CHAIR OF THE ULTIMATE CAMPAIGN
“I am proud to support the life saving work of Mackenzie Health. Through the generous support of donors and our government’s record investments, we are ending hallway health care in Ontario together.”
- DOUG FORD, PREMIER OF ONTARIO
Gala - Mayor Bevilacqua and MHF Chair
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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
The Mackenzie Health Foundation is spearheading the Ultimate 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. Established in 1977, Mackenzie Health Foundation has raised funds for capital projects, medical equipment, technology and educational opportunities at Mackenzie Health. For more information, please www.mackenziehealth.ca