Monumental Gift in Memory of a Son
On October 25, 2010, Myron and Berna Garron gave $30 million to cancer care at SickKids in memory of their son, Michael, who passed away in 1975 from cancer at the age of 13. This is believed to be the single largest private donation to paediatric cancer research and care in North America.
The Garron Family’s $30 million gift will support four new Senior Research Chairs and two Clinician-scientist positions; fund various priority programs including one of the first Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) suites at a Canadian paediatric hospital and support the Innovative Therapies Fund, which invests in new clinical treatments for children with cancer. A total of $7 million of the donation will be allocated to the new SickKids Research & Learning Tower and the Cancer, Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Neighbourhood, which will become the future hub for cancer-based research.
“The Garron family has had a 40-year relationship with SickKids,” said Ted Garrard, President and CEO of SickKids Foundation. “Their past support and this magnificent new donation demonstrate the family’s deep commitment to philanthropy and to making a real difference in paediatric cancer care and research.”
In 1975, the Garron’s son Michael passed away at the age of 13 from synovial sarcoma, a rare, soft tissue cancer. Michael received treatment at SickKids. In addition to this donation, the Garron family, through the Michael Albert Garron Foundation, has donated more than $1.3 million to SickKids in support of vital equipment to support cancer diagnoses and research projects to find new treatments for cancer patients.
“The impact of donations, such as the one from the Garron family, is immeasurable,” said Dr. James Whitlock, Chief of Haematology/Oncology at SickKids. “This gift helps SickKids stay at the forefront of paediatric cancer care and research and will ultimately help children with cancer to live longer, more fulfilling lives.”
(SickKids Foundation http://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/news/NewsTransformationalGift.asp , October 25, 2010)
This money WILL make a difference
Thank you Garron Family!