Page 58 - An Innovation Spirit ...

Grateful
donors
help fund
innovation
By David Israelson
Everything is “so far, so good”
a dozen years after his heart
transplant at Toronto’s Peter
Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC),
says Frank Lavorato. And
that’s an understatement.
“I couldn’t be happier with
the way I’ve been treated,”
says Mr. Lavorato, a 65-year-
old Woodbridge, Ont.,
resident whose family has a
history of cardiac disease.
Jeff Rubenstein thinks it’s
wonderful that Mr. Lavorato’s
transplant in 2003 was
successful, but his goal is more
expansive – less surgery, more
non-invasive treatment and
ever better knowledge, care and
understanding of the heart.
Mr. Rubenstein is a Toronto
businessman whose father,
now 95, also had his life
saved at the centre.
“He was 65 years old and
had a heart attack right in the
middle of a stress test. He had
a quadruple bypass, and the
doctor saved him. Our family has
always been philanthropic. When
someone saves your life, you want Western Hospital Foundation.
to become a bit more involved,
say, ‘Thank you,’” he says.
56 Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
Mr. Rubenstein’s own heart and is leading its four-year Jeff Rubenstein (right) and his
skips a beat when he talks about campaign to raise $100-million father, Max, who has been a
the importance of supporting for the centre, which treats patient at the Peter Munk Cardiac
the centre’s work, if only from 55,000 patients a year with Centre.
enthusiasm and excitement. cardiac or vascular disease. This
goal was achieved in October Munk Cardiac Centre Innovation
“There’s a saying, ‘Saving one 2014, capping in at $139-million. Committee with medical experts,
life is like saving the world,’” which evaluates research
notes Mr. Rubenstein, CEO The foundation is considering proposals to determine which
of Export Packers Company whether to launch another ones are most ready to be
Limited in Brampton, Ont. mega-campaign for the centre. funded. “It’s like going back
Regardless, the need for funding to school for me. I learn so
After his father was helped, is always there, says Linda much all the time,” he jokes.
Mr. Rubenstein was given a Goldsack, Chair of the Peter
tour of the centre’s facilities, Munk Cardiac Centre Campaign. People in the Greater
and “I felt compelled to Toronto Area have a strong
do something,” he says. The foundation and PMCC understanding of the importance
work in “gift teams,” so that of being generous toward state-
Now it’s practically impossible donors can apply their funds of-the-art facilities like the Peter
to get Mr. Rubenstein to stop either to general hospital Munk Cardiac Centre and the
advocating for the Peter Munk programs or specific areas Ted Rogers Centre for Heart
Cardiac Centre, for the new such as heart research Research, Ms. Goldsack says.
related Ted Rogers Centre for and cardiac care.
Heart Research and for the “Philanthropy is what allows
work they’re doing to treat This enables people whose this institution to take that
patients today and to develop family members have been next step,” she explains. “It
new treatments for tomorrow. treated by PMCC to make allows for the establishment of
specific gifts, and it also lets academic chairs [for medical
“Cardiac care has come a long the world-leading heart experts research]. We have 24 at the
way in the last 25 years. We’ve who work there seek funding for Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, all
made a lot of inroads in cardiac new types of treatment, which funded through philanthropy.”
surgery, cardiology,” says Mr. are often still experimental
Rubenstein, who is on the and, therefore, wouldn’t be Each chair requires about
board of the Toronto General & funded by government. $3-million in funding,
Ms. Goldsack says.
He is the Board Champion for In an additional role, Mr.
the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre Rubenstein sits on the Peter