Campaign cabinet announced for Mackenzie Vaughan's $250 million fundraising goal
Yorkregion.com
May 9, 2016
By Adam Martin-Robbins
Mackenzie Health Foundation has assembled a team of “prominent leaders in business, health care and the community” to spearhead the effort to raise $250 million, in large part, for Vaughan’s long-awaited hospital.
The foundation, which also raises funds to enhance care at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, unveiled the the so-called campaign cabinet for its $250-million Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign earlier this week.
Greg Sorbara, former Liberal MPP for Vaughan and a former Ontario finance minister, is leading the cabinet, which features several developers as well as real estate professionals, construction union representatives, politicians and bankers.
“We are asking people to make a gift to something that will be a direct part of their lives, for the rest of their lives and for generations to come,” Sorbara said in a news release. “This cabinet will help to inspire the donations that will create lasting legacies and transform health care in southwest York Region.”
Among the campaign cabinet members are:
- Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
- Glenn Beaumont, president of Enbridge Gas Distribution and chairman of the Mackenzie Health
Foundation board
- Robert De Gasperis, president of DG Group (formerly Metrus Development)
- Marie Fiorellino-Di Poce, owner of John Paul & Co. and a founding member ETA of Vaughan
Women’s Shelter
- Vince Galifi, executive vice-president and CFO of Magna International Inc.
- Lou Greenbaum, principal with The Vogue Development Group Inc.
- Tony Iannuzzi, president of the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario
- Sandra Maio, lawyer for HBNG Holborn Group (which includes Maystar General Contractors, KAPP
Contracting and Poetry Living)
- Altaf Stationwala, Mackenzie Health president and CEO
Magna International’s $10-million pledge, made last October, ranks as the top gift made to the campaign, so far.
In recognition of that generous gift, the emergency department at the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will be named Magna Emergency.
The foundation expects to announce additional pledges of $1 million or more in the near future.
A major portion of the funds generated by the $250-million campaign will go to cover the “local share,” which includes 10 per cent of construction costs for the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital as well as the majority of equipment and furniture costs.
On top of that, Vaughan taxpayers contributed $80 million toward purchasing and development of the land at Major Mackenzie Drive and Jane Street where the hospital will sit.
That money is being paid through a special levy expected to remain on the property tax bill until at least 2021.
The exact cost of building the hospital, and when its doors will open, is slated to be announced in the fall, after the consortium charged with designing, building, financing and maintaining the facility is selected.
Some officials have suggested the price tag to build the proposed state-of-the-art, 350-bed hospital is in the range of $1 billion.
Up until now, the goal has been to have the hospital built and open in 2019.
