We’re thrilled to announce we’ve received an historic gift – $40-million from the Cortellucci family! The donation was announced yesterday at the 2019 Vaughan Mayor’s Gala by the honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of Vaughan and Chair of Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign. The Mayor was joined by the Cortellucci family to celebrate this transformational gift, showcasing how their generosity will impact patients and families in York Region and help build and equip Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. Through this gift, the Cortellucci family are making a meaningful, lasting difference in improving the health and wellness of our community and the patients and families who rely on Mackenzie Health each and every day. As community leaders and long-standing supporters of Mackenzie Health, the Cortellucci family has made a lasting difference in our community – including past support in naming of Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital’s emergency department, ongoing support at Mackenzie Health Foundation’s gala and signature events and leadership in our community, such as support for Hospice Vaughan and Niagara University Vaughan.
The $40-million gift was announced yesterday at the 2019 Vaughan Mayor’s Gala by the honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of Vaughan and Chair of Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign. The Mayor was joined by the Cortellucci family; Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, Mackenzie Health; the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; Rina Pillitteri, Chair, Mackenzie Health Foundation Board of Directors; and distinguished guests.
We’re also excited to announce that this gift brings our total amount raised to more than $160 million. We’re more confident than ever that we’ll achieve our $250-million fundraising goal, the largest community hospital capital campaign in Canadian history! We’re grateful to the hundreds of donors who’ve supported the campaign to date, including 33 donors who’ve generously given $1 million or more.
Mackenzie Richmond Hill and Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will bring the best possible care and “smart” technologies close to home for patients and families in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, King and across southwest York Region. For patients and families, this means an increase in available beds and more opportunities for care; support for 75,000 emergency visits at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, 24,000 medical imaging exams between both sites; and increased capacity for surgery, including leading minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Pictured here is the latest Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital construction photos as of June 2019 (left) and the feature staircase in the Vic De Zen Family Welcome Centre (right) in the hospital’s entrance. The hospital will be home to the latest “smart” technologies that support staff and physicians in coordinating care smoothly around the needs of patients and families.
Building the future of health care
It was only three years ago that we first broke ground on Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. Last year, we topped off the building and reached the highest point of construction. Now, the Medical Service Units and headwalls which deliver the medical gases, power and data jacks to each of the patient treatment bays in the Emergency Department, Medical Imaging, Perioperative Surgery, Critical Care, Woman and Child and Mental Health are currently being installed. The sliding glass doors to the Emergency Department treatment bays and the Critical Care patient rooms have arrived and are also being installed.
Interior door and hardware installation progresses on levels 0 and 1 as well as the interior glazing installation. Patient bedrooms will be equipped with motorized roller shades and black out blinds to allow patients and families to control the room environment right from the patient’s bed. On the outside, landscape continues to advance with stone retaining walls, light pole bases and ongoing construction in the new parkade as well as planters in the courtyards. These courtyards and gardens provide essential respite areas for patients, families and staff.