16th Gourmet Dinner of the Fondation du CHUM - $1,050,000 raised!

MONTREAL, June 5, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Once again, a great time was had by all on Wednesday, June 4 at Le Parquet in Centre CDP Capital at the 16th edition of the Gourmet Dinner organized by the Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). Over 300 guests took part in a unique oenological journey "Du Vieux Continent au Nouveau Monde" and a one-of-a-kind sensory experience through the work Ludwig, by author and illustrator Christian Quesnel, inspired by Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 and his Letter to the Immortal Beloved. This remarkable evening raised $1 050 000 for the CHUM and for the benefit of its patients. 

The Honorary Chair for the evening, François Côté, Executive Vice-President of TELUS and Chair of TELUS Ventures, was delighted to have participated in this event once again. "I have been involved in the Gourmet Dinner for several years and each time it reminds me of the importance of the Fondation," said Mr. Côté. "I'm proud to see the community reaching out and supporting current and future patients of the CHUM."

In all, since the first dinner, this prestigious event has raised near $8,000,000. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Fondation pursues its mission and commitment to help provide the best in health care for the hospital's patients through the purchase of state-of-the art equipment, the advancement of innovative research projects, in contributing to excellence in education and supporting initiatives that promote health and the patient experience.

"This special evening brought people together to celebrate the significant advances made by the CHUM, particularly in terms of its Research Centre, inaugurated last fall, and the new CHUM, which will play a vital role in the improvement of health care and the well-being of the entire population in the coming years'', said Jacques Turgeon, Chief Executive Officer of the CHUM who will begin his mandate on June 19.

Ékram Antoine Rabbat, President & CEO of the Fondation du CHUM, sincerely thanked all the guests. "I'm delighted to see that year after year we can count on the unwavering support of our donors. This societal project that the CHUM represents unites us for the benefit of the entire community. Having reached nearly 60% of its goal, our Capital Fundraising Campaign Giving Ourselves the Best in Health Care is the ultimate demonstration of our commitment toward the hundreds of thousands of CHUM patients."

The Fondation du CHUM also wishes to thank the Honorary President of the Gourmet Dinner, François Côté, as well as the two Co-Chairs: Marie-Berthe Des Groseillers, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of BMTC Group and President of the Brault & Martineau Foundation; and Réjean Robitaille, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Laurentian Bank. Many thanks are also extended to the sponsors of the evening: TELUS, Laurentian Bank, Brault & Martineau and the Société des alcools du Québec.

About the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and its Foundation
The Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) offers ultra-specialized priority services to local and regional adult clients in all recognized medical specializations in Quebec. It is the principal hub of development and knowledge transfer through its integrated activities of care, teaching, research, assessment of health-related technologies and modes of intervention, as well as quality, health promotion and the patient experience. By 2016, the CHUM will provide a renewed hospital experience in its new facilities in downtown Montreal. The CHUM is an active member of the Réseau universitaire intégré de santé (RUIS) of the Université de Montréal.  chumontreal.qc.ca

The Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) acts as a catalyst and a driving force behind the CHUM as it carries out its mission through a great many initiatives, fundraising activities (mailings, solicitation from individual donors, private foundations and businesses) and its capital fundraising campaign. Since 1998, it has turned over more than 102 million dollars to the CHUM thanks to the generosity of its donors. Whether it is a matter of purchasing state-of-the-art equipment, supporting research projects which lead to the development of promising treatment methods, helping to train tomorrow's medical specialists or underwriting the promotion of health, the funds raised contribute toward offering ever better care to patients. fondationduchum.com/en

Image with caption: "Gilles Dulude, Fondation du CHUM; Jacques Turgeon, CHUM; Jean-Claude Deschênes, CHUM; Yvon Deschamps, Fondation du CHUM; François Côté, TELUS and TELUS Ventures; Marie-Berthe Des Groseillers, BMTC Group Inc. and Brault & Martineau Foundation; Réjean Robitaille, Laurentian Bank; Judi Richards, Ékram Antoine Rabbat, Fondation du CHUM. (CNW Group/Fondation du CHUM)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140605_C3612_PHOTO_EN_2514.jpg

SOURCE: Fondation du CHUM

Elodie Grange, Director, Communication and Marketing, Fondation du CHUM, Tel.: [phone], [email protected]