On June 5, the University Hospital Foundation hosted the first-ever Igniters Annual Voting Experience — an evening that brought together exciting medical innovations and a passionate community of change-makers ready to shape the future of health.

The event was the culmination of a groundbreaking new giving program designed to redefine philanthropy for the next generation. With inspiration from shows like Dragon’s Den, the experience gave Igniters members a front-row seat to health innovation.

Three visionary health innovators took the stage to pitch bold, Artificial Intelligence-driven healthcare projects to the Igniters community aligning with the theme of Redefining Healthcare: AI Technology and Sustainability for a Better Future. After compelling presentations and an exciting live vote, Dr. Brian Buck’s project, “Biomarkers and EEG For Acute Stroke Prehospital Triage (BEFAST)” was selected to receive the first round of Igniters funding.

“I want you to envision a family member of yours who lives a few hours outside of Edmonton suddenly develops signs of a stroke,” began Dr. Buck as he gave his presentation to the raptly attentive room. “You call 911 and within minutes an ambulance arrives. What if I told you that ambulance is going to arrive with no equipment to detect and diagnose stroke? What if I told you that our team, with the Igniters support, has an AI screening tool that we can bring directly to patients on ambulance that will change this scenario. To make sure patients get to the right hospital and receive the right treatment right away.”

“The energy in the room was electric,” said Dr. Jodi Abbott, President and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation. “This isn’t just about funding projects; it’s about aligning philanthropy with purpose. The Igniters are showing that the next generation of donors wants to be hands-on, values-driven and deeply connected to the change they’re making in the community.”

Igniters is a first-of-its-kind program in Alberta that invites individuals, couples and corporations to contribute $10,000 over two years. Together, these funds are pooled and used to support high-impact, forward-thinking projects in complex patient care, research and innovation. Members attend four curated experiences annually, including the highly anticipated voting experience, where they determine firsthand how their giving drives change.

With fifteen memberships in it’s first year, the Igniters pooled funding will provide Dr. Buck with $77,500 toward making his project a reality. While only one project is receiving Igniters funding this year, each of the finalists presented compelling, high-impact ideas that align with the vision of a healthier future and may find other opportunities for funding from the Foundation.

Following a successful debut, the Foundation is already looking ahead to the next chapter and will soon begin recruiting for new Igniters who want to align their giving with their values and be part of a bold new future for philanthropy.

To learn more or express interest in joining the Igniters, visit givetouhf.ca/ways-to-give/igniters/ or contact igniters@givetouhf.ca.

About the University Hospital Foundation
The University Hospital Foundation is an organization dedicated to a powerful, singular purpose: to continuously seek, inspire and support bold solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges and ignite new discoveries in health. Responsible for raising and managing funds to advance prevention, patient care, research and healthcare education at the University of Alberta Hospital, the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and the Kaye Edmonton Clinic, the Foundation strives to transform and redefine health in the Edmonton area, throughout Alberta and around the world so that everyone can live a longer, healthier life.

About the Igniters

The Igniters Program is a bold new donor initiative from the University Hospital Foundation that brings together a community of next-gen philanthropists to fund groundbreaking healthcare innovation. Through curated events and a live voting experience, Igniters directly influence which high-impact projects receive funding—redefining what it means to give.