Message from the President – September 10, 2019
After a terrific summer filled with extensive planning and anticipation – the day finally arrived. On September 4th, after many years in the making, we officially opened Phillips House, the new home of North York General’s child and adolescent outpatient mental health programs.
It was a day filled with joy and hope. We were honoured to be joined by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Christine Elliott, as well as MPP Vincent Ke, and Councillor Shelley Carroll. Together we gathered to celebrate how this remarkable new facility will change how we care for some of the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community. The home-like setting will help alleviate the stress and stigma young patients face when accessing mental health care services.
We were moved by the words of Nicole German, founder of The Maddie Project. Established in memory of Madeline “Maddie” Grace German Coulter, the group helped fund Maddie’s Healing Garden, a beautiful 1.2-acre green space surrounding Phillips House that will provide patients with a calming natural setting for therapy, meditation and physical activity.
The transformation of Phillips House was only possible through the dedication, support and visionary leadership of our amazing donors – individuals, families and corporations who are truly making a difference in our community.
Now our excitement shifts to our second annual Rally in the Ravine, our signature run/walk on September 28, presented by Concord Adex. It’s an opportunity for the families whom we care for to join with our physicians and staff to celebrate and support the hospital that means so much to us all. If you haven’t already registered, please sign up today to participate and fundraise. With a 5k run/walk, 1K garden walk and kids’ mini rally – everyone is welcome, no matter your age or fitness level.
I am also pleased to share that our legendary Heart of Fashion returns on May 9th, 2020! Our signature evening is a showcase of Canadian design, with food and drink to match, topped off with our dance party on the Cat Walk! All proceeds will go towards the redevelopment of a new Steinberg Family Paediatric Centre, slated to open in December 2020. There’s a limited number of tickets and sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact us to find out how you can get involved.
Our Foundation team takes so much pride in the work we do to help patients and families. We love that our events are as fun as they are impactful. But we couldn’t do any of this without the support of our generous donor community — and for that, we’re beyond grateful. Together, we’re improving care and saving lives, right in your own backyard.
With warm regards,
Terry Pursell
President & CEO
North York General Foundation
