GIVING CHARITY OR ZAKAT IS A BASIC TENET OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH, A PRINCIPLE THAT WAS EXEMPLIFIED IN A MOST EXCEPTIONAL WAY
During their Canada Day 150th anniversary celebration at the Baitul Islam Mosque in Maple, July 1, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at (AMJ) Canada pledged a $2-million gift to Mackenzie Health Foundation’s $250-million Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign to help build and equip the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.
“The building of this hospital is something very important to us because not only have we been a part of the Vaughan community for over 25 years, but the core of the Islamic faith is to serve humanity and give back to society,” said Lal Khan Malik, National President of AMJ Canada. “So we are very passionate about making a significant contribution to this much-needed hospital.”
Headquartered in Vaughan, AMJ Canada has been a strong and dedicated supporter of bringing a world-class hospital to their community. Since 2003, AMJ Canada has organized the Annual Run for Vaughan, raising more than $600,000 to date for the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.
The Caliph, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at has also emphasized to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association the need to focus on giving back to society through humanitarian fundraising initiatives such as the Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign, according to Kashif Danish, National President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association of Canada.
“With construction now under way on the site, it’s particularly meaningful that AMJ has solidified its legacy of community leadership and philanthropy with this extraordinary gift of $2 million,” Mackenzie Health Foundation President and CEO Ingrid Perry said.
Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital – Canada’s first smart hospital – is designed with the patient and their family in mind. Patients, visitors and staff will use two significant areas of Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital that will be named in recognition of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s generous gift.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada Lower Main Street will be the lower-level internal avenue, adjacent to the beautifully landscaped cascading garden courtyard and atrium cafeteria, that connects the west public entrance to the atrium, grand staircase and patient tower elevators.
As well, one medical/surgical in-patient unit, with natural light, privacy and space for patients, families and visitors, will be named in recognition of the AMJ gift.
“This meaningful act of philanthropy for Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital demonstrates our Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s dedication to giving back to build a strong and vibrant city to benefit all of us,” said Vaughan Mayor and campaign cabinet co-chair Maurizio Bevilacqua. “This leadership and spirit of generosity is what defines our city.”