Together, we raised an incredible $113,391 on Giving Tuesday
$500,000 Gift from Local Family Supports COVID-19 Response at Vancouver Hospitals
The Conconi Family Foundation has committed $500,000 to support COVID-19 response funds launched by St. Paul’s Foundation and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to support front line health care at their respective hospitals.
“VGH & UBC Foundation and St. Paul’s Foundation support thousands of health care professionals, who serve hundreds of thousands of people across BC,” says Robert Conconi. “St. Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital are provincial leaders in health care and are also deeply rooted in the local health care system and their reach far exceeds the hospital walls.”
The family is inviting the public to match their gift by making donations to the COVID-19 response funds at either St. Paul’s Foundation or VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, emphasizing that every donation – no matter the amount – will be important in this unprecedented time for our health care system. Matched donations can be made at old.vghfoundation.ca/covid-19-response or donate.helpstpauls.com.
“BC’s health care heroes, the doctors, nurses and other support workers in the hospital and in our community, along with our first responders, are helping the most vulnerable and those in greatest need. They do so now in this global pandemic despite the anxiety they are experiencing and the fear of potential infection,” says Angela Chapman, President & CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “We want to make sure we provide them with what they need to remain safe and supported. Our hospital foundations’ have launched COVID-19 Response Funds to provide for the needs of those on the frontlines of this pandemic.”
“We applaud the Conconi family’s leadership galvanizing Vancouver’s giving community around this health crisis,” says Dick Vollet, President and CEO, St. Paul’s Foundation. “Every donation – no matter how large or small – to the COVID-19 Response Fund will support our frontline health care workers to provide the very best care possible at this time.”
COVID-19 disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations – the frail and elderly. This means hospital Emergency Departments, ICUs, and acute medical units for the severely unwell are at the front line.
“For several years now the Conconi Family Foundation has been immersed in research and planning to best support BC seniors,” says Victoria Conconi, Robert and Diane’s daughter and local nurse. “COVID 19 was not something we planned to address but we cannot ignore the fact this outbreak poses an elevated and significant risk to the physical, mental and emotional health of not only seniors, but to all of us.”
The Conconi family joins thousands of others across the province in acknowledging the hard work and sacrifices being made by health care workers around the world.
Our healthcare workers are on the front lines putting themselves at risk to care for our loved ones and save lives. Let’s acknowledge their extraordinary courage and rally together to support their safety, accelerate research and treatment options and help ease the overall strain on our healthcare system. Let’s honour their #CovidCourageYVR
Thanks to your generosity, we’ve met and completed the Conconi Family Foundation match as well as the extended match from the Y.P.Heung Foundation. The total raised with this campaign was an incredible $1.8 million for the COVID-19 response funds at St. Paul’s Foundation and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. Donations are still urgently needed as we continue to support the vital work of the researchers, nurses, physicians and health care teams working on the front lines of COVID-19.
To donate, visit old.vghfoundation.ca/covid-19-response.
COVID-19: We are all in this together
The collective response to the COVID-19 emergency has been extraordinary, and our health care heroes across the province have been rapidly preparing for a potential surge in cases.
Our actions now are vital – from social distancing to working from home, checking in on family, friends and neighbours, and helping out those who are isolated for their protection — we can all play our part to fight back against the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
“We know it can feel difficult and even scary at times, but remember, we are all in this together,” says Angela Chapman, President & CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “The decisions and actions we are taking today are saving lives, and our health care partners – our health care heroes – are counting on our support.”
Support our Health Care Heroes
BC’s health care system has been made stronger and more resilient because of your support. Thank you. We are standing by to help our health care workers where needed in the coming weeks and months. We’ve let our hospital leaders know this. And we’ll need your help.
We have opened two new philanthropic funds:
- COVID-19 Response Fund — Support our health care teams on the front lines to provide the best possible care.
- COVID-19 Research Fund — Support our researchers as they mobilize with others from around the world to treat and cure COVID-19.
As always, your donation will be fully tax receiptable.
While we are all changing our daily lives due to COVID-19, we are going to continue to do our work to support our vital health care teams, with your continued support.
For information on how to donate medical supplies to Vancouver Coastal Health, please visit their info page: http://www.vch.ca/get-involved/donate
Foundation Office Closure
As of Tuesday, March 17 the Foundation office has been closed to the public. We are continuing to operate remotely and are maintaining a small staff team on site.
While our physical location is closed until further notice, you can still contact us to provide support. And, now more than ever, we are working closely with our partner Vancouver Coastal Health to ensure donor funds are available to support current priority areas.
- Email us at info@old.vghfoundation.ca and we will respond back to you as soon as possible.
- Call us at 604-875-4676, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
- Many inquiries can also be answered via our website at old.vghfoundation.ca.
Events cancelled until end of April
We have cancelled all VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation-led events until the end of April 2020. For events in May and beyond, we are monitoring the situation and will update you as further plans are made.
Our number one priority is the health and safety of our supporters, donors, volunteers, staff and health care partners. Given the official COVID-19 response in BC, we are following the advice of our health care leaders and medical experts to help slow down the spread of this disease, including the restriction of public gatherings.
Take care of yourself, your loved ones and neighbours
Here are some things you can do to support the well-being of yourself and others during this time:
- Stay connected with loved ones and continue to maintain healthy relationships.
- Reach out to friends and neighbours – particularly those who may be staying indoors – we all need to support each other, and some may need help to get groceries and medication.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest news and listen to the health care experts at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
From all of us here at VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, stay safe, stay healthy, and we will all get through this.
Remembering James (Jim) Eccott, Enthusiastic Philanthropist
Jim Eccott
It is with great sadness that we announce our dear friend, supporter, Patrons’ Council member and former board director, Jim Eccott passed away on March 6, 2020. Jim was a member of the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Board of Directors from 2010 to 2017, and a tremendous leader who truly believed in the power of philanthropy.
Jim was an entrepreneur, starting several businesses and working as a lumber broker before joining DiaMet Minerals in 1992. During this tenure, he was involved in the discovery of the Ekati Mine, Canada’s first Diamond Mine and consequently co-founded the Canadian diamond industry.
He lived in Kelowna for almost 50 years, but his generosity and community impact spread far beyond B.C.’s interior. He was a previous member of the UBC Board of Governors and a current member of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors.
“Jim Eccott was an enthusiastic philanthropist and will be missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him,” says Angela Chapman, President & CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “Jim considered giving back to the community his post-retirement career. He was a dedicated member of our Board and Patrons’ Council, working tirelessly to raise both money and awareness to improve and transform health care in BC.”
Jim was described as the embodiment of integrity and kindness and a thoughtful leader, providing guidance and wisdom to the organizations he supported. He was passionate about giving back and making a difference in the community. His philanthropy was guided by the simple notion of seeing a need and filling it.
Once, when he wanted to make a gift to Kelowna General Hospital, he simply met with an emergency physician to ask what they most needed but lacked the budget for. In a short time, they had a new X-ray machine.
In Vancouver, Jim was a passionate supporter of the opening of the Joseph & Rosalie Segal and Family Health Centre at Vancouver General Hospital. This purpose-built facility is the first of its kind in B.C., caring for people with mental health and substance use issues. More recently, he also supported Dementia research.
“The whole concept of hospitalization and health care is changing,” said Jim. “[Working with the board] was a wonderful experience because, number one you realize just how hard the staff worked, particularly the emergency departments and some of these other areas. The dedication of staff to the cause. If you’re not involved with the hospital you hear these stories and you don’t think very much about it. But when you’re close to it you see just how much they’ve accomplished.”
Jim was predeceased by his wife and the mother of his children, Shirley Anne. He found love again and married Colleen Dickson Eccott who lovingly cared for him and was by his side at his passing. Jim led his life with his family — children and grandchildren and great- grandchildren — always in his mind and heart.
In addition to his philanthropic board memberships, Jim served on the Board of DiaMet Minerals Ltd., Canadian Airlines International, Del Roca Energy Ltd., Northern Air Support Ltd., Sun-Rype Products and most recently Canterra Minerals Corp.
The healing power of art
For Roberta Beiser, the beautiful art you can find throughout Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehab Centre isn’t just for the patients.
“It’s for their families, visitors and the staff. When my partner was having an operation, I was going to be here for hours waiting, and I just started at the top floor and looked at all the art. It helped to pass the time, and that has a positive effect too,” says Roberta.
Roberta realized the uplifting impact art can have on people going through tough times after visiting a large hospital in LA and seeing its collection. And, as a former VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Board Chair, she saw an opportunity.
Through Roberta’s passion for art and drive to do good the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Art Collection was born.
Under Roberta’s guidance, what started as a few pieces scattered throughout VGH has since grown into a collection of more than 2,300 curated and wonderful installations across Vancouver Coastal Health campuses.
Having proved that art can humanize clinical spaces and expedite the healing process, the Art Collection has directly inspired other hospitals across North America to follow suit — truly trailblazing the path that shows the healing power of art.
“I’ve always appreciated art, so that resonated with me. I also saw the impact that I could have on thousands of people coming into the health care centres every day,” says Roberta. “As a donor, you feel that you’re contributing to the wellbeing of other people.”
The dedication, time and support that Roberta has put into the Art Collection has made Vancouver Coastal Health campuses more welcoming for all. For this we and everyone who walks down its halls are forever grateful.
Dr. Thalia Field nominated for YWCA Women of Distinction Award
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is proud to announce stroke neurologist and clinician-researcher Dr. Thalia Field has been nominated for a 2020 YWCA Women of Distinction Award.
Recognized nationally, Dr. Field is nominated in the Health & Wellness category, which honours extraordinary women leaders who have shown an unwavering commitment to delivering, promoting and advocating for healthy lives and communities.
“It’s a terrific award and I am very grateful to the Foundation for nominating me,” says Dr. Field. “The award supports a wonderful cause in the YWCA, which is helping women who are marginalized and need extra support during difficult situations in their lives. It’s a wonderful opportunity and I very much appreciate the recognition.”
Dr. Field’s nomination is in celebration of the years of astounding work she has accomplished in her multifaceted medical career which has directly impacted the quality of care available to patients across British Columbia.
Since she first began working in medicine, Dr. Field has had a passion for seeking new and improved ways to enhance stroke care and treatments. This includes research on improving recruitment and retention in clinical trials, and putting a significant focus on outcomes that can be immediately beneficial to participants.
Dr. Field’s work also expands into the study of neurodegenerative diseases, and she is currently leading a study to improve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease to accelerate the development of disease-modifying treatments for dementia.
In 2016, she founded the Downtown Eastside Outreach clinic in partnership with the Portland Hotel Society. Here, Dr. Field is caring for Downtown Eastside residents with neurological issues who would have difficulty attending appointments in an office environment, as well as attending home visits as needed to ensure that every patient who needs it can access quality neurological care.
“Working with those residents has been a really wonderful experience,” says Dr. Field. “They’ve got an incredibly supportive community there, despite the struggles that they are facing, and effective care for many of those patients will need to incorporate approaches that emphasize those social supports and other considerations like housing security above and beyond their immediate neurological issues.”
These activities are in addition to her day-to-day role as the Fellowship Program Director of the Vancouver Stroke Program (VSP), and an acting clinician helping stroke patients survive and thrive at VGH and UBC Hospital.
Dr. Field’s career development and much of her research has been supported by donors to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “The support of our donors has been critical in building our best possible Stroke program,” she says, “emphasizing excellence in quality care, research and education.”
Join us in wishing Dr. Field the best of luck in her nomination! The winners will be announced on May 11, 2020.
Remembering Robert (Bob) H. Lee, CM, OBC, A Visionary Community Leader
Robert and Lily Lee
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of an extraordinary community leader, philanthropist and dear Foundation friend Robert (Bob) Lee CM, OBC (1933-2020). Bob was recognized across BC and Canada as a unique community leader, with the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada among the accolades recognizing the impact of his exemplary leadership.
Bob, the son of an immigrant restaurant owner, was born and raised in Vancouver’s Chinatown and aspired to become an entrepreneur. He founded multiple real estate companies, including Prospero. He was the visionary behind the creation of the UBC Properties Trust, an approach to real estate development that benefits a social purpose, has generated over $400 million for UBC’s endowment and is now widely replicated in cities around North America
Both Bob and his wife, Lily, graduated from UBC in business and nursing respectively. They believed that healthy families and healthy neighbourhoods were the foundation on which communities were built, and that education was a key driver through which both individuals and communities thrive. This belief in healthy communities led to their support of a unique Vancouver Coastal Health community health centre offering specialized programs and health services to the diverse neighbourhood of Grandview Woodlands, the Robert & Lily Lee Family Community Health Centre.
“Bob was an extraordinary community leader,” says Angela Chapman, President & CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “His warmth and humility were magnetic, and he had an extraordinary ability to galvanize people and marshal resources to create change. He touched so many lives and his impact on Vancouver and British Columbia will endure.”
In 2011, we honoured Bob and Lily Lee with the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Leadership Award, where we celebrated not just their financial contributions, but their personal passion for the causes they support. Those paying tribute to Bob and Lily that night called out his infectious laugh as one of many admirable traits.
“Theirs is a very quiet and unconventional kind of leadership,” said daughter, Carol, in 2001. “It was part of a life philosophy handed down from their parents. Working hard, doing the right thing, and being a really good citizen of their community.”
In addition to his support of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, Bob, Lily and the Lee family have supported a number of causes throughout Vancouver, including the YMCA, where he was a member for 45 years, and helped create the Robert Lee YMCA in downtown Vancouver; and UBC, where he served as Chair of the Board of Governors and as Chancellor. UBC’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School at the Sauder School of Business and the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre were named in his honour.
Ryan’s Story
Honouring health care philanthropist Stephen Sander
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that our friend and loyal health care philanthropist Stephen Sander has passed away.
Stephen lived to be 85 years old. And throughout those years he created an enduring legacy whose generosity has no doubt affected the lives of thousands of patients across BC and the country.
“Stephen was a self-made man, whose life was an exemplary tale of the Canadian dream,” says Angela Chapman, President & CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “He was dedicated to his family and committed to the communities that helped shape the life he made. Health care in Vancouver has been made better through his generosity, with support for new technology and improved patient care programs.”
Throughout Stephen’s life he provided many meaningful and transformative gifts, including three $1 million gifts in support of an upgraded MRI machine at UBC Hospital, surgical robot “Jack Jr.” and a new 3T MRI machine at VGH. These devices serve thousands of patients every year, providing them with the highest level of diagnostic accuracy, reducing wait times and providing better outcomes.
Stephen was born in 1934 in Gujranwala, in an area now known as Pakistan, to a Sikh farming family. During the partition of India in 1947, Stephen’s family was separated. He lived on the streets of New Delhi for years, all while pursuing a university degree in education.
Stephen immigrated to England in the 1960s before moving to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. He was a teacher for 15 years, but eventually he turned his eye to real estate.
In 1972 Stephen founded Hollyburn Properties out of West Vancouver. He led this family business to the forefront of the industry and committed to providing residential rental apartment homes in three provinces across Canada.
“Stephen was a titan,” says Jim O’Hara, Vice President, Leadership Giving at VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “And his spirit will live on.”
Thank you, Stephen, and the Sander family. You have made an immeasurable impact on health care in BC and across Canada. The world is a better place because of you.