Carlo and Angela Baldassarra Family pledges $5M to new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital
VAUGHAN, ON, Dec. 12, 2017 /CNW/ - The Carlo and Angela Baldassarra Family has pledged $5 million to Mackenzie Health Foundation's $250-million Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign to help build and equip the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.
"For people today and for the next generations, my family understands how important it is to support and create new healthcare infrastructures in Vaughan," said Carlo Baldassarra. "This community needs to continue to unite to make Vaughan the best place to live and watch your family grow and prosper."
The Inpatient Dialysis Unit at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will be named in honour of Carlo and Angela Baldassarra and Families to recognize their transformative gift.
The opening of Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital – Canada's first "smart" hospital – will bring a specialized focus to inpatient chronic kidney care, according to Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO of Mackenzie Health.
"Within our two-hospital model of care, Mackenzie Health will continue to provide the spectrum of chronic kidney disease services at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and the satellite sites," says Mr. Stationwala. "But for the first time in Ontario, there will be a dedicated unit within the new hospital where only admitted patients will receive dialysis."
Mackenzie Health Foundation's $250-million Exceptional Care Belongs Here Campaign to help build and equip the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is being spearheaded by a dedicated 33-member cabinet co-chaired by Greg Sorbara and Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua.
Construction of the new hospital – a 1.2 million sq. ft., state-of-the-heart health care facility featuring fully integrated 'smart' technology systems and medical devices – began last fall, and is making significant progress toward the scheduled opening in 2020.
According to Campaign Cabinet Co-chairs, Greg Sorbara and Mayor Bevilacqua, the Baldassarra family has deep roots in Vaughan, as prominent citizens and owners of one of the city's most respected and prolific homebuilders, the Greenpark Group. "The Baldassarra family's generous contribution to the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is a demonstration of their longstanding commitment to city–building. This extraordinary gift is an example of how one family can make a profound impact on the lives of many and their compassion is a source of inspiration for us all. They share the values of hope and optimism, and exemplify the spirit of generosity that defines our community," says Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, Campaign Cabinet Co-chair. "The Baldassarra family's latest gift to Mackenzie Health is a testament to their continued commitment to making this community stronger and is a shining example for others in the community who share the desire to bring this much-needed hospital to Vaughan for the benefit of this and future generations," adds Mr. Sorbara.
Mackenzie Health currently operates the York Region Chronic Kidney Disease program as a multi-site program based at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital with satellite sites in Oak Ridges and Vaughan. The regional program provides the full continuum of chronic kidney disease services from kidney care clinics to hemodialysis and home dialysis therapies, as well as inpatient and outpatient services. Ambulatory hemodialysis is available at all three locations to accommodate patient preference and condition.
The new Inpatient Dialysis Unit at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will have six dialysis stations, with the potential for eight, and is being designed exclusively for inpatient treatment. According to Dr. Michael Pandes, Physician Lead, Chronic Kidney Disease Program, the new unit will uniquely position Mackenzie Health to deliver optimized chronic kidney disease care.
"Most chronic kidney disease units in the province function as ambulatory units, where admitted patients receive care among outpatients," says Dr. Pandes. "The impact of the Baldassarra family's donation is profound. Our nephrology team will be able to deliver person-focused care to our admitted patients who often present more complex cases of chronic kidney disease in a unit designed specifically for their needs."
About Greenpark Group
Building Success From The Ground Up For 50 Years.
In 1967, less than 10 years after he first stepped foot onto Canadian soil, Carlo Baldassarra founded Greenpark. Along with his two partners, Jack Wine and Philip Rechtsman, Carlo set out to build quality homes for families throughout the GTA. From the beginning, Carlo was a visionary who understood the future potential of the building industry and was eager to bring this potential to life. He adopted forward-thinking strategies to expand and build in greater quantities and in larger formats, resulting in entire communities quickly blanketing the Toronto area. Carlo's methods were unique, powerful and brilliant resulting in the company thriving through some of the country's weakest economic periods.
Fifty years later, the Greenpark Group, now solely owned by the Carlo Baldassarra Family, is widely recognized as Canada's most vast and trusted home builder, with over 72,000 homes built to date. In honour of Carlo's legacy in the building industry, he received the 2014 BILD Lifetime Achievement Award. While building homes for thousands of families, Carlo also built his own family along with his wife Angela, and their three sons - Mauro, Armando and Michael. The Greenpark legacy, led by the Baldassara family, is as strong as ever and positioned for continued growth in Canada and beyond. All three sons grew up in the business and under the guidance of their father. Each son became integral to the continued expansion and success of the Greenpark Group.
About Mackenzie Health
Mackenzie Health is a dynamic regional health care provider which includes the existing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, as well as a comprehensive network of community-based services. The ground breaking for the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital was held on October 25, 2016.
In March 2017, the organization received its second consecutive award of Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada for its commitment to safety and quality patient care. This is the highest rating a Canadian health care provider can receive.
Guided by a vision to create a world-class health experience, Mackenzie Health has an unrelenting focus on the patient and is dedicated to patient needs now and in the future. With over 500,000 residents in Southwest York Region, Mackenzie Health is proud to serve one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in Canada,
For more information, please visit mackenziehealth.ca
The Mackenzie Health Foundation's Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign – the largest fundraising drive ever led by a community hospital in Canada – is committed to raising $250-million in community contributions toward the total $1.6-billion project cost of the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.
Since 1977, Mackenzie Health Foundation has raised more than $125 million for capital projects, medical equipment, technology and educational opportunities for Mackenzie Health.
For more information, please visit mackenziehealthfoundation.ca
SOURCE Mackenzie Health Foundation
Media Contact: Erika Vilmanis, Communications Coordinator, Mackenzie Health Foundation, [email protected], 905-883-1212 ext. 7806
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