The W. Garfield Weston Foundation Provides Million-Dollar Gift to The Salvation Army's Toronto Grace Health Centre

Complex Continuing Care, Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Health Centre to Undergo Renovations to Improve Quality of Care

TORONTO, June 19, 2014 /CNW/ - The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre is honoured to announce The W. Garfield Weston Foundation's $1 million gift to The Toronto Grace's Infrastructure Renewal Project. The funds will be directed to the renovation of the health centre located at 650 Church Street.

This generous donation has been awarded as a challenge grant in order to enable The Grace to encourage additional support. The W. Garfield Weston Foundation will match $1 million of donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

"Our family is delighted to be supporting the renovation of The Grace, a centre well-known for providing exceptional patient care to the community." said Garfield Mitchell, Director of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation. "It is our hope that this donation will inspire others to lend support to the Salvation Army as they update this important facility."

"This grant will allow us to continue to serve our community in the heart of the city in our updated facility," said Marilyn Rook, President and CEO of The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre. "The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has a long and distinguished history of supporting The Salvation Army and The Grace is grateful for this gift."

The 24-month renovation process to the Toronto Grace Health Centre will build upon The Salvation Army's commitment to provide transformational and compassionate care to individuals in need of complex continuing care, rehabilitation and palliative care services. Renovations to the Toronto Grace Health Centre will modernize the 60-year-old building's infrastructure and improve the ability of staff to provide specialized care. Renovations include an update to heating and air-conditioning systems, fire and life safety and other critical systems.

About The W. Garfield Weston Foundation
The W. Garfield Weston Foundation is a private Canadian family foundation, established in the 1950's by Willard Garfield Weston and his wife Reta.  In 1924 Garfield inherited his father's company and during his life established baking and retail businesses throughout Canada and in many parts of the world. The founders believed that as the funds are generated through the hard work and success of these Canadian companies, grants should be given in Canada for the benefit of Canadians. For three generations, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has maintained a family tradition of supporting charitable organizations across Canada. Today the Foundation directs the majority of its funds to projects in the fields of land conservation, education, and scientific research in Canada's North. In addition, it provides funds to further Canada's research in neuroscience.

About Toronto Grace Health Centre
The Toronto Grace is a 119-bed hospital located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is owned and operated by The Salvation Army.  The Toronto Grace welcomes patients of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.  In addition to our Spiritual Care staff, we work closely with clergy of all religions to provide spiritual support for their members. The Toronto Grace provides medically complex and specialized care and services to those individuals who require Complex Continuing Care, Rehabilitation and Palliative Care. The care and services provided at the Toronto Grace help facilitate the patient flow through the health care system and ensures recovery to those individuals who may return to their homes or to Long Term Care (LTC) facilities in their communities.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and every day in 400 communities across Canada and more than 125 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

SOURCE: THE SALVATION ARMY

Marilyn Rook
President & CEO
Toronto Grace Health Centre
416-925-1879
[email protected]

John McAlister
National Director of Marketing and Communications
The Salvation Army
416-467-3186
[email protected]
www.SalvationArmy.ca