Edmonton, AB – September 19, 2019 – The University Hospital Foundation is elated to announce that the Brain Centre Campaign has raised over $70 million, transforming brain care at the University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) for millions of Canadians today, and for generations to come.
Today, we are officially wrapping up our Brain Centre Campaign, marking the end of one of the most significant healthcare-related fundraising campaigns ever launched in Edmonton.
“The goal of the campaign was to elevate good care to great brain care in Edmonton,” said Jim Brown, who, along with fellow businessman and philanthropist, Guy Scott, co-chaired the campaign. “Thanks to incredible community support, that goal has been accomplished.”
The Foundation is also excited to announce that long time donors Ken and Leona Biggs have made a transformational gift to the University Hospital Foundation of $5 million dollars, the largest gift to the Brain Centre campaign. In honour of their incredible generosity, the neuro ICU will be re-named the Leona and Kenneth Biggs & Dr. Peter B.R. Allen Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit.
The Brain Centre provides care to brain patients across northern Alberta and parts of northern and western Canada.
“Thank you so much to everyone who contributed. Donors to the Brain Centre Campaign should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished,” said Joyce Mallman Law, President of the University Hospital Foundation. “The University of Alberta Hospital is now home to world-class brain care. Every single one of the thousands of gifts we received helped us get there.”
Led by Brown, Scott and a core group of dedicated community volunteers who formed the rest of the Brain Centre Campaign Cabinet, the campaign began when discussion around equipment to upgrade brain patient care led to a larger vision.
In collaboration with Alberta Health Services and with direction and expertise from Dr. Keith Aronyk, then Clinical Department Head of Neurosciences, this discussion about equipment became the basis for a visionary plan to create a Brain Centre of international stature right here in Edmonton – one that focused on putting the best equipment in the hands of the best doctors working in the best environments.
“We’re so grateful for the support of the University Hospital Foundation. For many years, we have worked together to bring the very best in patient care, education and research to Albertans who are served by the University of Alberta Hospital,” said Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO, Alberta Health Services. “The Foundation’s investments in Brain Centre Campaign truly make a difference in the lives of patients and their families.”
With innovations like Canada’s first stroke ambulance; one of the most advanced surgical suites in the country; the newest, state-of-the-art 3T MR imaging; and Gamma Knife, non-invasive brain surgery, the campaign has backed its promise to provide the best brain care possible for millions of Albertans and Canadians living in western and northern parts of the country.
“The Brain Centre Campaign began in 2011 with the goal of giving the most advanced brain care in Canada to patients from across northern Alberta and beyond,” said Tyler Shandro, Alberta Minister of Health. “Today, thanks to the generosity of donors and the dedication of the University Hospital Foundation, that goal has been achieved. Thank you to everyone involved in this campaign for investing in Alberta’s future.”
To show the Foundation’s gratitude to the generous community members who donated to the campaign, we hired artist Carson Ting to create an artistic impression of what the Brain Centre campaign has done for the community. You can find the video HERE.
To learn more about the University Hospital Foundation’s Brain Centre Campaign, visit UHFbraincampaign.ca.
University Hospital Foundation
The University Hospital Foundation raises and manages funds to advance patient care, research and healthcare education at the University of Alberta Hospital, the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and the Kaye Edmonton Clinic. For more information visit GivetoUHF.ca.
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