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Media Release

June 26, 2009

15 Million Ways to Say “I Heart Hazel”

Million dollar bequest helps Trillium Health Centre Foundation successfully complete campaign in support of the Hazel McCallion Centre for Heart Health

Mayor Hazel McCallion and community leader and philanthropist Fred Ketchen celebrate 15 million ways to say “I Heart Hazel”.

Mayor Hazel McCallion and community leader and philanthropist Fred Ketchen celebrate 15 million ways to say “I Heart Hazel”. The I Heart Hazel campaign, which paid tribute to the Mayor and her many years of service to the community, wrapped successfully today, raising $15 million to support advanced cardiac care at the Hazel McCallion Centre for Heart Health at Trillium Health Centre. Mr. Ketchen kicked off the campaign 15 months ago with a million dollar donation. Today marked the recognition of another million dollar bequest from Mississaugan John Allan, whose wife Jean had been a paediatric nurse at the Health Centre for many years.

Mississauga, ON – Trillium Health Centre Foundation today announced that thanks to a community effort, led by 10 Cardiac Champions, its campaign to raise $15 million to support local cardiac care has met its goal.   A million dollar bequest from a long time supporter of the Health Centre capped off the effort that began 15 months ago by community leader and philanthropist Fred Ketchen who pledged the first million. 

The I Heart Hazel campaign challenged the community to demonstrate their love, appreciation and respect for Mayor McCallion by making a donation to the Hazel McCallion Centre for Heart Health in her honour. 

“The donations we received, large and small, pay tribute to Mayor McCallion's passion for building healthy communities," notes Kim Warburton, chair, Trillium Health Centre Foundation. "The Hazel McCallion Centre for Heart Health ensures that we can continue to provide progressive cardiac care that will save more lives and keep more hearts healthy throughout the region.”

Mayor McCallion, Canada’s longest serving municipal leader and arguably its most beloved, has been behind the campaign from the outset. “Generosity and community spirit have always been hallmarks of our community.  How proud I am to see our citizens once again donate with open hearts to create a lasting legacy to serve the people of Mississauga, West Toronto and surrounding communities,” says the Mayor.

Local Cardiac Champions Recognized

The Mayor recognized the leadership of all the Cardiac Champions who set the pace for the campaign, in particular Fred Ketchen, a life-long resident of Mississauga, and his wife Anne, who were the first to say “count us in”. Mr. Ketchen, who in 1991 experienced two heart attacks in 22 days, knows the value of having a world class cardiac centre close to home.  “We are so fortunate to have these doctors and this advanced expertise right in this community and believe strongly in investing in this critical service so others can have the same kind of life saving intervention that I experienced,” said Mr. Ketchen.

While Mr. Ketchen was the first to step up, closing off the campaign was a million dollar gift from the estate of John Allan, in honour of his wife Jean who was a paediatric nurse at the Health Centre for many years before her death.

“Over the years, Mr. Allan was a steady supporter of the Health Centre and Mrs. Allan a valued member of our Trillium family.   We are profoundly grateful for their kindness and are thrilled that the Allan’s generosity will leave a lasting legacy for the community they called home for many years,” says Steve Hoscheit, president and CEO, Trillium Health Centre Foundation.   

Campaign Inspires Many to Give Generously

The I Heart Hazel campaign inspired many people in many different ways including James Claydon who heeded the call to pay tribute to the Mayor on her 88th birthday this past Valentine’s Day.  Mr. Claydon originally donated $888 to mark the Mayor’s special day in February and then decided to add to that gift to mark his own 75th birthday.   Mr. Claydon’s $250,000 donation will go toward the purchase of a mini heart lung bypass system for life-saving cardiac surgery.

In addition to Messrs. Ketchen, Allan and Clayton, the I Heart Hazel campaign also salutes the following citizens and businesses for their leadership and significant support as Cardiac Champions:   Nameh and Jacqueline Jabbour; Francine and Bob Barrett; the Variolo Family Estate; Pasta Festa champions Ralph Chioda and Ethel Taylor; Mattamy Homes;  Willson International; and Gordon and Ruth Gooder.

About Trillium Health Centre

Trillium Health Centre is one of Canada’s largest academically-affiliated tertiary care hospitals with highly-specialized regional programs in advanced cardiac, vascular, stroke, neurosciences, orthopaedic, and sexual assault/domestic violence services. Housing a model ambulatory care centre and the largest free standing day surgery centre in North America, Trillium serves over one million residents in Peel and West Toronto and from other communities across Ontario. Last year Trillium’s doctors, staff and volunteers cared for more than 700,000 patients at the Mississauga (100 Queensway W.) and West Toronto (150 Sherway Dr.) locations. With the continued support of the Trillium Health Centre Foundation, the hospital’s fundraising arm, the two-site facility is attracting international attention for its innovative approach to providing safe, high quality health care services and has received numerous national awards for quality and innovation.

For more information, go to www.trilliumhealthcentre.org.

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Media Contact:

For more information, contact

Trish Krause
416.606-9817
trishkrause@rogers.com,

or

Larry Roberts
Media Relations Consultant
Trillium Health Centre
905.848.7580 ext. 3832
lroberts@thc.on.ca.