Hamilton family donates another $3M to local researchers and hospitals

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Published November 2, 2020 at 12:26 pm

Hamilton’s health-care providers received a huge gift from one of Hamilton’s most generous benefactors on Monday (Nov. 2), a day after his 91st birthday.

Charles and Margaret Juravinski have donated $3 million to support health research through the Juravinski Research Institute, a partnership between Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH).

This is in addition to a more than $3 million contribution earlier this year to Hamilton-based researchers and projects aimed at battling COVID-19.

“Margaret and I don’t really need anything for our birthdays,” said Mr. Juravinski in a press release.

“Instead, what would give us the most joy, is to see our donations making a difference right now, by supporting the bright, talented research community that calls Hamilton home.”

This latest gift is also in addition to a $100 million legacy endowment the couple announced in 2019 that will be gifted to Hamilton’s hospitals and medical researchers upon their death. Not to mention the millions the family has already invested in health care in this city.

Three additional COVID-19-related projects are being supported as part of the 2020 funding:

  • Assessing the success, impact and practicality of saliva-based COVID-19 testing for scale up for large asymptomatic populations, such as seniors in retirement homes. Amica Senior Lifestyles is co-funding the study.
  • Assessing the risk of outbreak and infection in retirement homes and creating tools to help public health units and retirement home operators assess risk and target preventative and contingency interventions.
  • Examining the use of virtual care to help vulnerable seniors with socialization, exercise, nutrition and medication support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know Charles and Margaret want to encourage others by their actions and build on the success of the phenomenal health research they have already helped foster here in Hamilton,” said Julian Dobranowski, of the Juravinski Research Institute steering committee.

“The impact of these investments will continue to benefit people everywhere, for generations to come. We are so thankful for their trust in our researchers, their belief in the work we all do and their tremendous generosity.”

“In response to the continued generosity of the Juravinski family, Hamilton’s health-care providers launched a social media campaign on Monday calling on the community to share 91 reasons why they’re thankful,” a press release said.

“Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton are inviting the #HamOnt community to share on Twitter why they are thankful for the Juravinskis. The goal is to reach #91Reasons to honour Charles’ 91st birthday.”

To learn more about the social media campaign and how to participate, visit SJHH’s website.

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