National Philanthropy Day is an opportunity to thank you and honour you for your generosity. I am adding my voice to the throngs of others who are celebrating your spirit and your commitment to transforming our world. Together, our convictions have never been stronger, more unified or more optimistic.
The decision to volunteer or donate to a given cause generally comes from the heart rather than the head. People do it because it makes them feel good. Personally, my ties with the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation go back a long while and are deeply rooted in my experience as a mother.
I have three children, one of whom has been a cancer survivor for six years. I firmly believe that Sainte-Justine plays a much more important role than simply providing the right care at the right time. They really take things to the next level when it comes to giving children back their future. The way I see it, by doing my part at the Foundation, I’m doing my part for a better tomorrow, not just for our little corner of the world, but for our entire society.
There are so many individuals, families and organizations across Quebec who have stepped up to the plate. I would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.
Did you know how much of an impact your generosity can have on the world – today more than ever before?
If you were here with us now, I’m sure you would immediately grasp the magnitude of everything that is coming together at Sainte-Justine.
New genomic approaches, gene- and cell-based therapies, state-of-the-art medical technologies, artificial intelligence, big data: the face of medicine is changing to meet the needs of every child in a more precise, personalized and productive way. This revolution in health care is happening right here and right now. It is up to all of us to support these efforts – and to do so in a timely manner.
Throughout Sainte-Justine’s history, philanthropy has been the impetus behind one scientific breakthrough after another. Your efforts and your willingness to go the extra mile are the reason we are poised to overcome some of the most daunting health-related challenges of our time.
Thanks to you and what you are building with Sainte-Justine, we are laying the foundations of tomorrow’s innovations, today. It is crucial for us to keep this momentum going.
This opportunity I have to give is tremendous. And I hope that my deep-seated desire to give back is something I pass on to my kids. After all, they are the ones who are reaping the benefits of past donors’ generosity.
One of my daughters is a cancer survivor and is now on the verge of becoming a mother herself. Even 20 years ago, this kind of outcome was simply unfathomable. So tell me: are your dreams for the future as lofty as mine?
On National Philanthropy Day, I am celebrating the hope that lives within you – that lives within all of us.
