Category: News

The Chairmen Family Foundation, a private, Burlington-based charitable Foundation, has made a transformational gift of $3.5M to the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation’s For All Minds Campaign in support of the redevelopment and expansion of the Mental Health & Addictions Unit at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH).

“Our family has long believed in the importance of having access to high-quality mental health and addictions care, right here in our community,” said a representative of the Chairmen Family Foundation. “We are proud to support this important initiative at Joseph Brant Hospital, a leader in community-based mental health and addictions care, and hope this gift inspires others to contribute in their own way.”

This gift is another step forward in the journey to redevelop JBH’s Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) program space to create therapeutic facilities that ensure a dignified, respectful, person-centred experience. The Government of Ontario approved the project in November 2024 and will make a significant impact on those who require timely and high-quality mental health and addictions care.

Mental illness affects all Canadians at some time either through their own experience, or that of a family member, friend or colleague. In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health illness, and by age 40, about 50% of the population will have had or be living with a mental illness.

The three core elements of the redevelopment project include a relocation and expansion of the Inpatient Mental Health and Addictions Unit with the addition of a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), a relocation of some of the Outpatient Mental Health Unit, and the addition of a new Child and Youth Mental Health Day Hospital.

“We are truly honoured and immensely grateful to have received this gift which will make a tremendous difference for our patients and their families,” said Ashley Davidson, Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation President & CEO. “This generous support will help us build state-of-the-art facilities, and provide faster and more accessible care in a comfortable setting, close to home.”

The For All Minds Campaign is committed to raising $20M in support of this essential project.

“This campaign will support JBH with achieving its vision to build a modern, person-centred facility that is purposefully designed to instill hope and support healing,” said Leon Denbok and Phil Davidson, Co-Chairs of the For All Minds Campaign Cabinet. “We are so grateful to the Chairmen Family Foundation, and all the donors to the For All Minds Campaign, for helping to ensure the safest and most dignified care will be available to patients.”

Click here to learn more information about the For All Minds Campaign.

This spring and summer we’re visiting neighbourhoods across Burlington to invite you to join our Community of Care Monthly Giving Program.  The ongoing support from our monthly donors makes a tremendous difference in the lives of JBH’s patients and their families.  Monthly donors help raise funds for the hospital’s most urgent needs, including vital equipment and technology that is used everyday throughout the hospital to save lives but is not covered by government funding.

We are partnering with  Globalfaces, one of Canada’s largest door-to-door fundraising services, for this campaign beginning June 10^th, 2024.  Globalfaces uses a team of professionals, who go through a rigorous training program so that they are well-informed about Joseph Brant Hospital and our programs, as well as our statement of purpose and values. We trust Globalfaces, and we hope our community will too.

FAQs

How do I know if the Fundraiser at the door is really from Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation?

All of our fundraising representatives will be wearing Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation apparel and a lanyard with an identification badge.  

If you receive a follow-up call from GlobalFaces’ contact centre, the call will come from one of the following numbers: 647-943-2827 or 1-833-467-0237. These numbers also appear on the canvassers’ ID badges.

Do you accept cash or cheques at the door?

Our fundraisers will never ask for, or accept cash or cheques at the door.

Is it safe to give my banking information or credit card?

Our fundraisers use tablets with encrypted software to collect payment information in a secure way. All fundraisers follow PCI-compliant procedures to ensure your information remains confidential and safe.

If someone is interested in making a one-time gift they will be given an email link to our secure donation page or they can go online at https://jbhfoundation.ca/ways-to-give/gifts/. 

What happens once I sign up?

You will receive an email confirmation shortly after registering. If you choose to donate by credit card or direct debit, your first gift will be processed at the door and then you will be advised by your fundraising representative of your monthly withdrawal date going forward.

New monthly donors will also receive an electronic or mailed version of our monthly welcome package (Depending on if an email address is provided at the time of signing up). Please check your spam folder in case the email lands outside of your inbox.

If you have any questions about your donation please contact Victoria Martynenko, Coordinator, Development at 905.632.3730 Ext. 5805 or vmartynenko@josephbranthospital.ca.

What if I want to cancel or change my monthly giving details?

You can decrease, upgrade or cancel your monthly gift at any time by calling Tracy at 905-632-3737 ext 6500 or by email at foundation@josephbranthospital.ca.

When will I receive my tax receipt?

Annual consolidated tax receipts for the current year will be issued in February of the following year. Tax receipts will be sent by regular mail.  If you would prefer to receive your tax receipt by email please let us know by calling Tracy at 905-632-3737 ext 6500 or by email at foundation@josephbranthospital.ca.

We sat down with our new President & CEO, Ashley Davidson, to hear her thoughts on healthcare, the importance of supporting community healthcare and more.

Here’s what she had to share:

Why is healthcare important to you?
To me, there is nothing more important than health – the health of our loved ones, friends and neighbours, and our own health and that of our entire community. When I think about my own life, many of my most meaningful and life-changing experiences, both positive and challenging, have centred on healthcare: the joy of the birth of a child, the anxiety and fear of a new diagnosis or the overwhelming sense of gratitude for lifesaving care and the hope it brings.

Healthcare is at the foundation of a vibrant and thriving community. I want everyone to have access to the very best healthcare, close to home and close to those they love and care about.

What are your goals and your vision for the Foundation?
JBHF exists to help our hospital thrive for the benefit of the health and wellbeing of our community. The last decade has seen tremendous growth for our Foundation, and I am excited to find new and innovative ways to engage our whole community, build upon our successes to date and lead the team to live our mission to inspire generosity and ensure the hospital has the support to be its very best.

What are the challenges your community is facing? How can we help to face these challenges? 
Our community is in the midst of a mental health epidemic. Each year, the demand for mental health and addictions care at our hospital grows exponentially.

In January, we announced a remarkable $5M gift from Michael and Laura Paletta in support of the For All Minds Campaign to transform mental health and addictions (MHA) care at our hospital. This gift is an incredible catalyst towards our goal of raising the critical funds needed for the redevelopment of our mental health and addictions facilities, a project which is long overdue.

Our MHA teams provide unparalleled excellence in care, however, the facilities in which they provide that care are antiquated and not in keeping with modern standards. Our goal is to build therapeutic facilities designed to ensure dignity and respectful, person-centred care which support recovery and improve outcomes for every patient group we serve.

By coming together, we can enable a brighter future of mental health and addictions care for our community.

What is the best advice someone has given you?
Growing up, my mum often reminded me of the Golden Rule. You really can’t go wrong when you start from a place of treating others with respect, kindness and fairness.  

What gets you up in the morning? What motivates you? 
Every day I am inspired by the incredible generosity of our donors and their steadfast dedication to helping ensure our community has the very best healthcare, close to home.

I have seen firsthand all that can be made possible when vision and investment intersect, and to me, that is incredibly motivating.

I feel so fortunate to work alongside truly exceptional people – from our Foundation team, to our volunteers and donors, to the outstanding leaders, physicians, nurses and all the frontline team members who work tirelessly everyday to care for our community. The entire JBH team is incredibly dedicated to their pursuit to provide the very best care, but they can’t do it alone.  Community support is essential to ensuring our teams can deliver exemplary care in state-of-the-art facilities, with innovative tools and technology. Together, we can be our best, and that is very motivating to me.

What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to spend time with family and friends, walk my dog, Burnsy (a Whippet and the world’s fastest couch potato), play soccer with the BWRSL, and just recently I have taken up yoga again.

February 21, 2024 – The Board of Directors of the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation (JBHF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashley Davidson as the Foundation’s next President & CEO. Ashley was selected after a comprehensive search and selection process which was anchored in the principles of equity and inclusion to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all applicants, and included a strong slate of external candidates.

“The Board is very excited about this appointment. Ashley is dynamic, capable, and passionate about our Foundation and our community,” said Leon Denbok, Chair of the Board. “We truly believe we’ve found the right person to lead our organization to achieve our ambitious goals and continue the organizational vision to inspire investment in Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH), ensuring exceptional healthcare for our community.”

Ashley will commence her new role as President & CEO on February 22, 2024. She joined the Foundation in 2012 and has since held progressively senior roles, serving as the Chief Development Officer since 2019.

Prior to coming to JBHF, Ashley spent eight years as a professional fundraiser for Trillium Health Partners Foundation in Mississauga, and for the Gardiner Museum in Toronto. She has held the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation since 2020, and is a Board member with Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Horseshoe Chapter.

 “Every day I am inspired by the incredible generosity of our donors and their steadfast dedication to helping ensure our community has the very best healthcare, close to home,” said Ashley. “Exciting things are happening at JBH, and I am thrilled to continue working alongside our exceptional board, hospital and Foundation team to help realize all that is possible when vision and philanthropy intersect.”

Ashley takes the helm at a pivotal time for JBHF, and will provide leadership of the For All Minds campaign for the Redevelopment & Expansion of the Mental Health & Addictions unit at the Joseph Brant Hospital. She will also support the development of a new strategic plan for the Foundation, working with the Board to develop the focus and objectives of the Foundation.  

A graduate of Western University, Ashley completed a Bachelor of Arts in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies. She also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management from Sheridan College.

We are pleased to share our 2023 Annual Donor Report, which highlights a few of the patient care moments and program successes at Joseph Brant Hospital over the past year.

These stories showcase how the lives of our patients and their families are directly impacted by the generosity of our donors, as well as stories of incredible ways our community came together this year in support of our hospital.

We hope these stories fill you with a sense of pride and accomplishment, for all you have made possible with your support.

Burlington, ON – Michael and Laura Paletta have announced a transformational gift of $5M to the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation`s $20M For All MindsCampaign in support of the redevelopment and expansion of the Mental Health & Addictions unit at Joseph Brant Hospital.

“Our family has felt firsthand the impact of mental illness, and understands the value of innovative and lifesaving care,” said Michael. “Laura and I firmly believe that this campaign has the ability to transform lives and help make Joseph Brant Hospital a world-class provider of mental health and addictions care right here in Burlington.”

This gift recognizes an urgent and growing need to redevelop JBH’s Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) program space to create therapeutic facilities that ensure a dignified, respectful, person-centred experience.

The three core elements of the redevelopment project include a relocation and expansion of the Inpatient Mental Health and Addictions Unit with the addition of a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), a relocation of some of the Outpatient Mental Health Unit, and the addition of a new Child and Youth Mental Health Day Hospital.

“We are truly honoured and grateful to have received this gift. Michael and Laura’s support, passion and commitment to improving mental health and addictions care in our community is inspiring,” said Anissa Hilborn, Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation President & CEO. “In recognition of this transformational gift, once complete the new unit will be named the Michael & Laura Paletta Mental Health & Addictions Unit.”

Mental illness affects all Canadians at some time either through their own experience, or that of a family member, friend or colleague. In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health illness, and by age 40, about 50% of the population will have had or being living with a mental illness.

JBH has a vision to build a modern, person-centred facility that is purposefully designed to instill hope and support healing, and that is consistent with the program philosophy to provide the safest and most dignified care to patients.

For more information about the For All Minds campaign, please visit jbhfoundation.ca.

The JBH Foundation has been nominated for a Burlington Post Reader’s Choice award in the non-profit/Foundation sector for the third year in a row. A special thank you goes to the members of the community that nominated us!

Voting is now open on the Burlington Post website and will be until February 20, 2023.

It truly is an honour to be nominated and should you wish to vote, please see important information/instructions below.

How to vote:

1)    Click here: https://www.insidehalton.com/readerschoice-burlington/categories/professional-services/subcategories/non-profit-foundations

2)    Click on vote beside Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation 

3)    You’ll need to sign in (if you have a Torstar Account) or register (which is free)

4)    Once registered/logged in, your vote will be tallied.

The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation and Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation are saddened by the passing of Teresa Longo and are incredibly thankful for the impact of the family’s generosity.

Mrs. Longo has a long history with Joseph Brant Hospital including annual holiday visits with Longo’s staff and the Halton Regional Police. During these visits, Mrs. Longo would bring gifts for patients who are in the hospital over the holidays, in addition to a donation to support the hospital’s urgent priorities.

Mrs. Longo’s husband Joseph, co-founder of Longo’s, passed away at JBH in 2008, and a room in the Palliative Care Unit was named in his honour.

In 2015, The Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation made a $500,000 matching gift challenge towards the Our New Era Campaign, in support of the redevelopment and expansion project.

It is truly an honour and privilege to have known Teresa and called her a friend. Her annual visits were a highlight of our holiday season and we will truly miss her smile, sense of humour, and the joy she brought to our hospital and our patients during the holiday season.

We share our heartfelt condolences with the Longo family and everyone that knew her at this time.

Anissa Hilborn                                                                       Eric Vandewall                       
President & CEO                                                                    President & CEO
Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation                                        Joseph Brant Hospital