Etobicoke General to benefit from Women Helping Women

December 19, 2013 · 0 Comments

Caledon Mayor Marolyn Morrison and Regional Councillor Patti Foley served as hosts to 40 women at the inaugural meeting of the new Women Helping Women for Etobicoke General Hospital fundraising campaign, sponsored by the Casamici Trattoria restaurant in Bolton Oct. 17.
“The Women Helping Women campaign answers the needs of the women in our community,” Morrison said. “By raising funds for the new Maternal Newborn program in Etobicoke General’s new wing, we can help women to have better birth experiences in family-centred environments. We can also ensure that specialized care is available when our smallest patients require extra help and that the care is available close to home, so that family support is convenient.”
Etobicoke General Hospital, originally opened in 1972, is undergoing significant revitalization to meet the growing demands of its community. This includes the development of a new four-storey wing, which will bring more than 217,000 square feet of expanded facilities for the services that the community utilizes most, including renovations and expansion of the Emergency Department, renovations to the Critical Care and Intensive Care units, a new maternal newborn unit and ambulatory procedures unit, as well as a new outpatient oncology facility.
The expansion will also include a new main entrance, new retail and registration areas and an upgraded lobby, in addition to expanded parking and more roadways to make the building more accessible.
During the Women Helping Women event, attendees had an opportunity to hear from keynote speakers on the topic of breast reconstruction and breast cancer surgery. Dr. Christine Tang, a plastic surgeon at Etobicoke General and Dr. Roberta Minna, a surgeon at Etobicoke General, delivered presentations, answered questions and emphasized the importance of getting mammograms to support the early detection of breast cancer.
“In the late ‘60s, women came together to raise funds to get the health care they needed for their families and they have continued to play an active role as donors, volunteers and advisors for more than 40 years,” observed Maureen Sheahan, vice-president of philanthropy with William Osler Health System Foundation. “The new Women Helping Women campaign is ambitious, as we seek to raise $4 million for the best possible Maternal Newborn care and programming at Etobicoke General that will touch the lives of every family in the community. Women in this community have proven they have the creativity and resourcefulness to achieve this goal.”
To learn more about redevelopment at Etobicoke General and to join the Women Helping Women campaign, call Anna Bernardi at (416) 494-2120 extension 32189.

Guests signed their names as a show of support to launch the $4 million Women Helping Women for Etobicoke General Hospital campaign. Seen here are Anna Bernardi, manager of major gifts for the Osler Foundation; Mayor Marolyn Morrison; Dr. Roberta Minna; Dr. Christine Tang; Dyanne Ostrander, director of major gifts for the Osler Foundation; Councillor Patti Foley; and Maureen Sheahan, VP of philanthropy for the Osler Foundation.
Submitted photo