MONTRÉAL, June 11, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Yesterday, in the presence of members of Montréal's scientific and business community, the IRCM Foundation unveiled the donor recognition panel for its 2009-2014 major fundraising campaign, Give for Life. The campaign, which raised funds to support health research at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, surpassed its $15-million objective.
"We wish to sincerely thank all our donors for their generosity towards the IRCM," says André J. P. Couillard, President of the IRCM Foundation. "The members of our Circle of benefactors showed us how much they believe in the value research and in the importance of having a world-class institute in Montréal. Thanks to over 1,000 businesses, private foundations and individuals, we were able to exceed our goal by raising $15.2 million."
The Give for Life campaign was publicly launched in 2011 by the co-chairs of the campaign Board, Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of Gaz Métro, and Emmanuel Triassi, CEO of Astaldi Canada.
"We were proud to lead this fundraising campaign, which contributed to the IRCM's growth and the advancement of health research," add the campaign co-chairs. "By supporting the institute, we successfully participated in the academic and scientific development of a high-calibre organization and, at the same time, to the reach of the Montréal and Quebec knowledge economy."
Before its public launch, a silent phase of the campaign was conducted with the IRCM's internal community, which collected over $1 million. Several subsequent donations were facilitated thanks to the leverage achieved through these funds. As a result, the Give for Life campaign allowed the IRCM, among other things, to recruit and setup six new researchers, create research chairs and funds, and grant scholarships to students and postdoctoral fellows, thus training the future generation of scientists.
"We would like to especially thank the Fondation J.A. DeSève for its outstanding support in this campaign," mentions Hélène Véronneau, Director of the IRCM Foundation. "Its generous contribution to diabetes research led to important breakthroughs in the field, including the development of an external artificial pancreas to treat type 1 diabetes."
"The IRCM Foundation is an essential partner for our institute and its support allows us to participate in scientific progress that will change the way we treat the deadliest diseases," says Tarik Möröy, IRCM President and Scientific Director. "For instance, thanks to the Gosselin-Lamarre Chair in clinical research, we are undertaking a new chapter at the IRCM Clinic with a focus on rare and genetic diseases. The André-Aisenstadt Chair of Excellence also enabled us to become a Canadian leader in the field of immunology. In addition, with support from the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation and the Molson Foundation, we established an innovative graduate studies program in molecular and cellular medicine."
Research Chairs and Funds created as part of the Give for Life campaign
André-Aisenstadt Chair of Excellence | Gosselin-Lamarre Chair in clinical research | Contributions to the Jean-Coutu Postdoctoral Scholarship Fund | Contributions to the Rosario and Annette Genest Fund for ethics research | Contributions to the Sainte-Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jésus Fund in memory of Mable and Lucien Toupin | BMO Financial Group Fund for priority research | Cogeco Fund for cancer research | Diana and Sam Scalia Fund for research on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases | Emmanuel-Triassi Fund for cancer research | Fondation J.A. DeSève Fund for diabetes research and the artificial pancreas | Gaz Métro Fund for priority research| Hydro-Québec Fund for priority research | IRCM In-House Fund for Excellence | J. Armand Bombardier Foundation and Molson Foundation Fund for molecular and cellular medicine at the IRCM | Jean-Guy-Desjardins Fund for priority research | Louise and André B. Charron Family Fund for research on neurodegenerative diseases | Lucille, Rollande and Gaétane Côté Fund | Michel Saucier Fund for priority research | Mirella and Lino Saputo Fund for priority research | National Bank Fund for cancer research | Power Corporation Fund for priority research | Quebecor Fund for neurology research | RBC Royal Bank Fund for research on infectious diseases | SAQ Fund for priority research | Scotia Bank Fund for diabetes research | TD Fund for excellence in the medical field
About the IRCM
The IRCM (www.ircm.qc.ca) is a renowned biomedical research institute located in the heart of Montréal's university district. Founded in 1967, it is currently comprised of 35 research units and four specialized research clinics. The IRCM is affiliated with the Université de Montréal, and the IRCM Clinic is associated to the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). It also maintains a long-standing association with McGill University. The IRCM is funded by the Quebec ministry of Economy, Innovation and Export Trade (Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et des Exportations).
About the IRCM Foundation
Also created in 1967, the IRCM Foundation (www.ircm.qc.ca/fondation) is an essential partner for the institute. Thanks to individuals who hold dear the IRCM's future, the IRCM Foundation is able to fulfill its mission and support scientific projects, technological development and training activities at the IRCM, thus contributing to the institution's growth and success.
SOURCE Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM)
Image with caption: "Closing ceremony for the IRCM Foundation's fundraising campaign Give for Life © IRCM - Left to right: Emmanuel Triassi, Tarik Möröy, Louise Lambert-Lagacé, André Couillard (CNW Group/Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150611_C6122_PHOTO_EN_17967.jpg
Julie Langelier, Communications Coordinator, IRCM, 514-987-5555, [email protected]
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