Canadian
philanthropists Emmanuelle Gattuso, Allan Slaight and the Slaight family made
history today with a $50 million gift to The Princess Margaret Cancer
Foundation. The extraordinary donation is the biggest ever private gift to
cancer research in Canadian history and will advance the Princess Margaret
Cancer Centre's Personalized Cancer Medicine initiative.
Ms. Gattuso and
Mr. Slaight's gift to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation's Billion Dollar
Challenge is pledged over ten years, and is an investment in human capital. It
will create an unprecedented Personalized Cancer Medicine "superfund to support
superstars" that will provide the necessary long-term, sustainable funding to
attract, support and retain the best and brightest minds in the world whose sole
focus is to eradicate cancer. In 2012, Emmanuelle Gattuso and Allan Slaight were
named Philanthropists of the Year by the Association of Fundraising
Professionals (AFP). The couple has dedicated their lives to transforming the
things that matter to them. Helping cancer patients is at the top of their list.
As a 10-year cancer survivor, Ms. Gattuso has seen significant change driven by
the dedicated scientists and caregivers at The Princess Margaret over the past
decade. For Ms. Gattuso, Mr. Slaight and the Slaight family, The Princess
Margaret's vision of Personalized Cancer Medicine resonates and is the reason
for their generous gift.
Emmanuelle Gattuso commented, "I have been
touched by cancer, as have so many friends and family members. Allan and I are
extremely pleased to be able to support The Princess Margaret's Billion Dollar
Challenge for Personalized Cancer Medicine and hope others will join us. We
believe in The Princess Margaret's vision to conquer cancer in our lifetime."
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the top 5 cancer research
centres in the world, is revolutionizing cancer care by creating and delivering
its own distinct model of Personalized Cancer Medicine encompassing four key
themes: detect, diagnose, target and support. Personalized Cancer Medicine will
help detect cancers earlier, diagnose cancers more precisely, provide targeted
treatment, and better support patients and their families through their cancer
journey.
"This outstanding gift will add significant momentum to the
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre's global leadership role in advancing
Personalized Cancer Medicine," said Dr. Robert Bell, President & CEO of
University Health Network (UHN).
Dr. Benjamin Neel, Research Director of
the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, said, "This unprecedented "superfund"
allows us to build and support research teams focused on precision genomics,
advanced tumour biology, immune therapy and molecular imaging." He added, "I
truly believe that we can conquer cancer."
"Emmanuelle Gattuso, Allan
Slaight and the Slaight family have made this historic gift to our Billion
Dollar Challenge to help transform cancer care as we know it today," said Paul
Alofs, President & CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. "This
will be a revolution that will take place over the next ten years. Please join
us as we raise funds to create the new gold standard in cancer care."
In
2009, Emmanuelle Gattuso, Allan Slaight and the Slaight family donated more than
$22 million to create The Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre at The Princess
Margaret. The centre provides one-day diagnoses and treatment plans to breast
cancer patients. Rapid diagnosis is now being embraced by other cancer sites,
including colorectal, lung, pancreatic and prostate cancers. To date, The
Princess Margaret will have received donations totaling more than $72 million
from Ms. Gattuso, Mr. Slaight and the Slaight family.
The Princess
Margaret Cancer Foundation launched a Billion Dollar Challenge in April 2012. To
date, this challenge has raised $243 million in a combination of donations and
grants To donate to Personalized Cancer Medicine at The Princess Margaret,
please visit www.ibelieveit.ca
About Princess Margaret Cancer
Centre
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and its research arm,
the Ontario Cancer Institute, which includes The Campbell Family Cancer Research
Institute, have achieved an international reputation as global leaders in the
fight against cancer and delivering Personalized Cancer Medicine. The Princess
Margaret, one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world, is a member of
the University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital,
Toronto Western Hospital and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. For more
information about the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, visit www.theprincessmargaret.ca or www.ibelieveit.ca.
About The Princess Margaret
Hospital Foundation
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation at
University Health Network raises funds for Personalized Cancer Medicine at the
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and its research arm, the Ontario Cancer
Institute, which now includes The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute.
More information about The Foundation can be found at www.thepmcf.ca.
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