Big-hearted Boutique Brokerage Slavens & Associates Gives Back When individuals close to Slavens & Associates were impacted by cancer, they went beyond passing around a sympathy card. They took action. Led by Donna Taylor and Elaine Kehoe, this group of compassionate corporate citizens hosted an appreciation cocktail party and fundraiser. Read Story Sean Vardoulias, Sean's Esso (Sheppard & Don Mills) Coinbox Program participant, Chairman's Circle member For Sean Vardoulias “charity starts at home” is much more than a popular turn of phrase. Sean, owner of Sean’s Esso located at Sheppard and Don Mills, has hosted and donated the proceeds from his Client Appreciation Barbecue for several years. "As a business owner in this neighbourhood, I feel that it is very important to give something back to the local community. I choose to support North York General because I would like to ensure that quality health care is provided to everyone who lives in this area.” Sean’s efforts and generosity have made a profound impact in the lives of numerous patients and their families. Over the years his annual barbecue and participation in North York General Hospital Foundation’s Coins for Care program has supported palliative care, cancer treatment, adult mental health and recently the child and teen program. Sean further demonstrated his passion for giving and concern for the community’s well-being by securing a matching gift of $1,000 from his corporate head office. He explains that, “Imperial Oil is a firm believer in community involvement; supporting North York General is an investment, not an expense." To date this generous community leader has invested time, zest and over $13,000 in our Hospital and our community. Winsham Cheque Presentation NYGH Wins with WINSHAM! The Winsham Group hosted their 2nd Annual Golf tournament on August 7th, 2009 at the Angus Glen Golf Club. The tournament was a great success! Proceeds raised will go towards providing compassionate and quality care at North York General Hospital. Pictured is Ingrid Perry, NYGHF President, accepting a $1,320.00 cheque from Art Carreiro and Shamsah Dharamshi from Winsham Group. Read Story The Entertainer - Eddie Shack Hockey hall-of-famer, Eddie Shack gets serious about prostate health. Here Comes Shack, he shoots, he scores!! During the 1966 NHL season, Eddie Shack broke out, scoring his career high of 26 goals with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A four-time Stanley Cup Winner, Shack is playing to a different tune these days. This time he's teaming up with North York General Hospital to fight cancers below the waist. Read Story Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Click here to view photos from the May 25th celebration. North York General Hospital Announces $2 Million Gift, Becomes First in Ontario to Secure 3-D Breast Imaging Technology North York General Hospital today announced a generous gift from Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg, ensuring patients will have access to the most advanced mammography technology available. This state-of-the-art digital mammography with tomosynthesis technology is the latest innovation in breast cancer screening and diagnosis, improving the chances for early detection and identifying breast cancer tumours as small as a few millimetres. Read Story Laura Vandervoort Supergirl raises over $12,000 for North York General Hospital! Laura Vandervoort who plays Supergirl, Superman's cousin on Smallville, is a proud Canadian and North York native. When she was just three weeks old she returned to North York General Hospital and spent a month here being treated for bacterial meningitis. Laura credits the Hospital with saving her life. Laura made a special celebrity appearance at the Fan Expo held August 22 to 24, 2008 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and generously donated her entire guest appearance fee to North York General Hospital! Read Laura's Story The Watters Family - Lauryn is pictured centre between her parents The Watters Family Three Generations of Giving Talk about keeping it in the family. The latest member of the Watters family to give to North York General Hospital is 8-year-old Lauryn Watters. For the past three years, Lauryn has been donating her birthday money to support the Child & Teen Program at North York General Hospital. She follows a rich history of giving. Her grandfather Bill is a member of the Chairman's Circle, and is a long-time supporter. Bill's son Brad continued the tradition of giving. It was only natural that a third generation Watters family member would follow in their footsteps. Read Lauryn's Story "Champion" Dodie McNally - Breast Cancer Survivor Surrounded by her "Heroes" Dodie McNally Chairman's Circle member "My name is Dodie McNally. I'd like to share with you my journey down the road called Cancer and the expert, wonderful care I received at North York General Hospital. In spring of 2004 during a routine self examination I found a small lump in my right breast. This didn't strike me as particularly unusual as I have a history of cysts and calcifications but my wonderful family physician, Dr. Carmen Kun, noticed something strange and had the wisdom to send me to the BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre (BDC) at North York General Hospital. At the time I wanted only to have the tumor removed and promptly asked for the first surgeon who would do the job. Fortunately, Dr. Kun's wisdom prevailed and just two days later I was sitting in the BDC reception area as one of their patients." Read Letter Volunteer Services Chairman's Circle member At a special recognition event on October 31, Volunteer Services pledged $3 million to Medical Imaging for the new Volunteer Services Centre for Medical Imaging. This pledge is a significant milestone in the $7.4 million fundraising goal. Staff, physicians and a strong representation of blue-smocked volunteers filled the auditorium to capacity for the announcement. "Volunteer Services is very excited about this gift," says Janet Scrafield, President, Volunteers Services. "To have our name on the centre reflects the confidence and pride of our volunteers in North York General Hospital. Medical Imaging is a health care service that affects everyone, and the centre will benefit all those NYGH serves." Read Letter Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Chairman's Circle member Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg have a strong philanthropic interest in health, children's services and Jewish organizations, and are long time donors to the North York General Hospital. Their generous contributions have allowed the Hospital to establish the Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Familial Breast Cancer Clinic, to purchase the Nerve Integrity Monitor used in ear surgery and tests the performance of the nerves involved with hearing, the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy equipment for detection of breast cancer, and an Electromyogram equipment used to diagnose neurological problems. In 2001, they made a $2-million gift to name the Emergency Department (now known as the Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Emergency), which is one of the largest individual gifts in the history of the Hospital. They also routinely encourage friends and family to recognize special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries with donations to North York General Hospital in lieu of gifts. "From the first months that we moved to Toronto in 1978, we have turned to North York General Hospital for help. The excellent doctors and the kind and wonderful staff have always been there for us. The Hospital has stood by the community all this time. It is time to stand by them. Helping others is important to our family." Petra Maulucci and family Circle of Friends monthly member "It's hard to say no to supporting North York General Hospital when you get great care. My support each month may be a little thing, but it makes us feel good to give. We use the services of the Hospital and we like the people. Supporting North York General through a monthly gift is important and worthwhile because we want to make sure that North York General is always there." Helen Ferley, Administrator, Seniors' Health Centre Chairman's Circle member Helen Ferley is the Administrator at the Seniors' Health Centre. In addition to supporting SHC/NYGH through her everyday work, Helen is also a Chairman's Circle member and has been supporting SHC/NYGH for over 10 years. "Going to work everyday is a rewarding experience. SHC/NYGH is an integral part of my life and the staff and residents are like family to me. I see first-hand how my support is able to make a difference in the lives of the residents. For example, from the donated funds we were able to organize an outing and a barbecue for the residents last year. It is important to me to know that my contribution helps to maintain a sense of belonging and encouragement at SHC/NYGH. Seeing a smile on the faces of the residents makes it all worthwhile." For more information on donor recognition you can contact Cathy Ortiz, Stewardship and Donor Relations Officer at (416) 756-6829 or cortiz@nygh.on.ca.