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American Foundation Boosts The
Toronto Hospital's
Cardiac Centre Fundraising Campaign with Challenge Grant
(Toronto January 20, 1997)
...From the Heart, a fundraising campaign
for The Toronto Hospital's Cardiac Centre, has received a boost from a prestigious
American foundation.
The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan will provide a challenge grant of
$750,000 US to the $25 million campaign if the Hospital meets its goal by
May 1, 1997.
"This is exciting news for The Toronto Hospital's Cardiac Centre fundraising
campaign," says Ms. Mary Connacher, Chair, The Toronto Hospital Foundation.
"This is one of the largest grants made in Canada by the Kresge Foundation.
We are extremely delighted in the vote of confidence shown by the foundation's
decision to contribute to our campaign in such a significant way."
The From the Heart
fundraising campaign was launched in December,
1993 to raise funds for the establishment of The Toronto Hospital Cardiac
Centre, a state-of-the-art facility for the treatment and investigation
of cardiac disease. The funds are being used to renovate an existing wing
of the Hospital to consolidate all cardiac services, staff and patients
currently dispersed throughout the hospital into one geographic location.
The new Centre will greatly improve cardiac patient care, enhance teaching
and maximize efficiency of resources. It is scheduled to open in May, 1997.
Mr. Peter Munk, a member of the Hospital's Board of Trustees and Chairman
and CEO of American Barrick Resources Corporation, provided the lead donation
of $5 million to the campaign. Currently, the campaign has raised $19 million.
"It is an honour to receive this challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation,"
says the Hospital's president Dr. Alan Hudson. "We are extremely confident
the campaign will reach its goal by the date specified by the Kresge Foundation.
The Kresge Foundation is an independent, private foundation created by the
personal gifts of Sebastian S. Kresge. It is not affiliated with any corporation
or organization.
Grants by the Kresge Foundation are made toward projects involving construction
or renovation of facilities and the purchase of major capital equipment
or real estate. Grant recipients have raised initial funds toward their
respective projects before requesting Foundation assistance. Grants are
then made on a challenge basis, requiring the raising of the remaining funds,
thereby insuring completion of the projects. Grants are made to institutions
operating in the areas of higher education, health and long-term care, arts
and humanities, human services, science and the environment and public affairs.
The Toronto Hospital has a long history of Canadian and worldwide cardiac
firsts dating back to 1935. These achievements include the development and
use of heparin, a blood thinner; the invention of the world's first cardiac
pacemaker; the development of the concept of hypothermia lowering the body
temperature to make heart surgery safer; the world's first human heart valve
transplant; and the world's first use of ancrod, an extract from snake venom,
as a blood thinner alternative for open heart surgery.
For more information contact Josey Panetta, Senior Media Relations Officer,
The Toronto Hospital, (416) 340-3303