HAMILTON, ON, May 27, 2015 /CNW/ - This morning, Teresa Cascioli, a revered Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, announced a new $2 million gift from her namesake foundation to St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. The gift was customized by Ms. Cascioli and Hospital leadership to enhance the health of women locally and globally through two distinct allocations:
Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation Research Award in Women's Health
$1,550,000 will be used to create the Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation Research Award in Women's Health. This new award will grant up to $100,000 annually to support promising research studies related to a woman's life cycle, from puberty through to post-menopause.
Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation Communication Station
$450,000 will be used to construct the new Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation Communication Station in the Postpartum Combined Care Unit of the Women's & Infants' Program. The gift will also provide funding for equipment purchases in this department. St. Joe's is the regional lead for women's and infants' care and delivers more than half of all babies born in Hamilton.
The Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation has donated a cumulative total of $3.5 million to St. Joe's since 2005. The new gift was inspired by an exceptional care experience Ms. Cascioli shared at the announcement.
"This is truly an inspirational gift that will help countless of women. We're just starting to unravel the mysteries of how illness and disease can affect men and women differently; how a mother's health can impact that of her baby's and vice-versa. This new research award will help promising researchers examine ways to improve the health of all the important women in our lives," said Dr. Jack Gauldie, Vice-President of Research and the head of the Hospital's Research Institute.
Dr. Tamar Packer, Head of Service & Medical Director of Newborn Care also spoke at the announcement. "Birthing and post-partum care are essential to a healthy start for both mom and baby. The new Communication Station will help our staff work more effectively as we care for mothers and their newborns during their first few days as a family unit. We're deeply grateful to the Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation for including us as part of this significant gift," she said.
St Joe's Foundation President & CEO Sera Filice-Armenio also thanked Ms. Cascioli for the generous support of her namesake foundation. "From donations that helped build our new surgical centre and breast diagnostic services, to the creation of the much beloved St. Joe's Baby Face Photo Wall, and now an investment in the health of women locally and beyond, Teresa is one of our most treasured supporters. She is as intelligent about her philanthropy as she is about the business decisions that catapulted her to success. We are thankful to the Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation today for once again taking a leadership role in our community," she said.
Hospital President Dr. David Higgins echoed that sentiment. "Over a decade before Ms. Cascioli became a philanthropist, she was referred to St. Joe's as a patient. She relied on us just as so many residents of our region do each and every day. And what is reassuring and rewarding for me, as both a clinician and an administrator, is to know that we delivered. Whether our patients are leaders in the corporate world, philanthropists, politicians or our friends, neighbours, and loved ones; all of them can rely on St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton to provide exceptional care, every time."
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SOURCE St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation
Image with caption: "St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation (CNW Group/St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150527_C7400_PHOTO_EN_17014.jpg
MEDIA CONTACT: Maria Hayes, Communications Specialist, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton & Foundation, 905.522.1155, ext 33506, [email protected]
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