Norgaard Foundation's $250,000 donation to Inspire the World lifts capital
campaign over $5 million threshold

Gift to BC Cancer Foundation will support cancer patients and their families.

VICTORIA, BC, Feb. 2 /CNW/ - The Norgaard Foundation, a private family foundation based in Sidney, B.C. today announced a donation of $250,000 to the BC Cancer Foundation's Inspire the World capital campaign. The gift helped kick off the campaign's 2010 fundraising year and carried it past the $ 5 million threshold, halfway to its $10 million goal.

The Inspire the World campaign was launched in September 2009 to fund a 10,000 square feet construction and renovation project to create a state-of-the-art patient and family support centre, a predictive cancer research centre and a radiation innovation wing at the BC Cancer Agency's Vancouver Island Centre.

The late Kaare Norgaard experienced great success in his professional life and used that success to become an active and engaged philanthropist. He established the Norgaard Foundation in 1989 to help others enjoy a richer quality of life. The Foundation's purpose is to assist disabled persons by providing facilities, equipment, apparatus and services in response to their individual needs. The Norgaard Foundation's board of directors recognizes the significant social impact cancer has on Vancouver Islanders and felt this donation was vital to ensure space is available to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

"The Norgaard Foundation is delighted to announce a gift of $250,000.00 to the BC Cancer Foundation's Inspire the World campaign for the creation of the Norgaard Foundation Counselling Suite to be located within the new Patient and Family Centre," said Norgaard Vice-chair and founding director Ron Tidman. "We feel certain that Kaare Norgaard would be pleased and proud of this investment in the lives of those impacted by cancer."

Nancy Payeur , leader for BC Cancer Agency's Patient & Family Counseling Services at the Vancouver Island Centre said, "Over 4,000 people are diagnosed with cancer on Vancouver Island each year. Patients consistently tell us they are very satisfied with the medical care they receive. Patients and their family members also tell us that they would like greater access to supportive services - including timely counselling, information and resources - as they deal with the challenges of their cancer diagnosis and treatment. The Norgaard Foundation Counselling Suite will be customized to allow us to offer a variety of such services to address the on-going and changing needs of individuals and families."

"Thank you to the Norgaard Foundation for their tremendous gift, which will help support and empower cancer patients and their families," said Douglas Nelson , CEO of BC Cancer Foundation. "It is exciting to announce that our Inspire the World campaign has now surpassed the halfway mark with this very generous donation from the Norgaard Foundation. Vancouver Islanders also continue to support the campaign with their donations, and we are truly grateful to all of them."

Norgaard Foundation President Tom Pringle added, "We are committed to ensuring that Mr. Norgaard 's legacy continues to have an impact in the community and we are delighted to support the BC Cancer Foundation and the urgent needs that the Inspire the World campaign supports."

To learn more about the Inspire the World campaign or to make a donation, please visit www.inspiretheworld.ca or call the BC Cancer Foundation at 250-382-4470.

The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency throughout B.C.

A private family foundation based in Sidney, B.C., the Norgaard Foundation assists people with disabilities by providing facilities, equipment, apparatus and services in response to individuals' needs.

For further information: Laura Walsh, CFRE, BC Cancer Foundation, Campaign Director, W: [phone], [email protected]; Dola Dube, Norgaard Foundation, Executive Secretary, Tel. [phone], [email protected]