The Ultimate Gala raises close to $1.5 million in one night in support of Mackenzie Health
Vaughan, ON (November 7, 2022) – Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Ultimate Gala presented by LiUNA! Ontario Provincial District Council & LiUNA Local 183 raised $1.45 million in one night in support of Mackenzie Health. Funds will help ensure a steady flow of resources will always be available to attract the very best talent, advance excellence in programs and services, and secure the latest equipment and technology Mackenzie Health needs to provide the best possible outcomes for every patient at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and its network of community-based locations.
After two years of not being able to celebrate in person, Gala co-chairs Grace Sgro and Lee Zanetti welcomed guests to a night where Mackenzie Health took centre stage with show-stopping entertainment, culinary masterpieces and breathtaking décor.
Attendees celebrated the 2021 opening of Mackenzie Health’s second hospital, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, and the achievement of Mackenzie Health Foundation’s $250-million Ultimate campaign milestone, historically the largest fundraising campaign ever undertaken by a community hospital in Canada.
Years of generosity by more than 15,000 donors have helped Mackenzie Health build and equip Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and enhance care at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. Since becoming a two-hospital organization in June 2021, Mackenzie Health has increased access to state-of-the-art health care for the residents of western York Region and beyond.
“We couldn’t have reached our campaign milestone without the incredible support and generosity of our community of donors,” said Luci Anderson, Interim President and CEO, Mackenzie Health Foundation. “The Ultimate Gala is a celebration of the dedication of our donors, volunteers and community members for their commitment to making the ultimate in health care possible.”
Throughout the evening, guests had a chance to bid on more than 150 silent auction items and lucky raffle winners walked away with amazing prizes including a cash prize and a Toronto getaway package.
This year’s live auction featured an equipment appeal that raised more than $185,000 to help purchase new ventilators. COVID-19 has made everyone aware of the important role ventilators play in supporting patients with compromised lung function. They were certainly crucial during the pandemic, but there are many different patient needs for ventilators. Ventilators help save the lives of patients of all ages by supporting their breathing after surgery, cardiac arrest, acute brain injuries like strokes and those who have breathing challenges related to asthma, COPD and COVID-19.
The last few years have been challenging in so many ways, but the community stepped up to support the gala even when it couldn’t be held in person. The community’s generosity raised $875,000 at the 2020 Ultimate UnGala and at last year’s Ultimate Auction.
“I’ve seen the very best of what humanity has to offer. An understanding that we’re in this together, that we share a common goal and a common purpose,” said the Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua, Chair of the Ultimate campaign and Mayor of Vaughan. “This experience had taught all of us what can be achieved if you believe in the art of the possible.”
Ongoing fundraising efforts will ensure continued investment in the incredible work taking place at Mackenzie Health’s two hospitals and network of community-based locations.
“While we’ve reached a remarkable campaign milestone, we still need our community’s help,” said Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO of Mackenzie Health. “With the continued support of our community, we’ll be able to ensure that both of our hospitals and our physicians, nurses and staff have what they need to deliver the best care possible to residents in the communities we serve across western York Region and beyond for many years to come.”
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About Mackenzie Health and Mackenzie Health Foundation
Mackenzie Health is a dynamic regional health care provider. Mackenzie Health includes Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, each with a full-service emergency department, core services such as surgery, medicine and critical care along with specialized programs. Its community-based locations and services continue to provide additional support to western York Region.
Mackenzie Health Foundation has been spearheading the Ultimate campaign – the largest fundraising drive ever led by a community hospital in Canada – to help build and equip Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and enhance care at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. The $250-million campaign milestone was achieved in June 2022 thanks to the generosity of more than 15,000 donors. Future fundraising efforts will focus on ensuring a steady flow of resources to attract the very best talent, advance excellence in Mackenzie Health’s programs and services, and secure the latest equipment and technology to help ensure the best possible outcomes for every patient.
Mackenzie Health is proud to serve western York Region, one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in Canada with more than 550,000 residents. For more information, please visit www.mackenziehealth.ca or mackenziehealthfoundation.ca
Media contact:
Christina Cindric
Senior Communications Consultant and Public Affairs Lead
christina.cindric@mackenziehealth.ca
p: 905-883-1212 ext. 7490
c: 437-922-1509
Event photos
For high resolution images, please email christina.cindric@mackenziehealth.ca
From left to right: Altaf Stationwala, Mackenzie Health President and CEO, Fay Lim-Lambie, Chair of the Mackenzie Health Board of Directors, Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua, Chair of the Ultimate campaign and Mayor of Vaughan, Luci Anderson, Mackenzie Health Foundation Interim President and CEO, and Moris Pilla, Chair of the Mackenzie Health Foundation Board of Directors.
Gala co-chairs Grace Sgro and Lee Zanetti welcomed guests to a night of show-stopping entertainment, culinary masterpieces and breathtaking décor.
Voices Rock Medicine, an all-female choir of physicians, including two physicians from Mackenzie Health, perform an inspiring musical selection for guests from across York Region.
Mackenzie Health takes centre stage for its 35th annual gala in support of Mackenzie Health Foundation at the Universal EventSpace in Vaughan.
A sold-out crowd celebrates the 2021 opening of Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and the achievement of the $250-million Ultimate campaign milestone at Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Ultimate Gala.
Dr. Sherryn Rambihar is one of two Mackenzie Health physicians performing with Voices Rock Medicine.