The 21st edition of the IRCM Foundation’s traditional Annual Dinner was held on November 17, raising a remarkable $500,000 to support cutting-edge research at the Institute. Organized in virtual mode for a second consecutive year, with close to 450 participants, the Annual Dinner was also the occasion for the Foundation to officially launch its brand new and ambitious capital campaign under the theme Driven by Life, with the objective to raise $25M over the next 5 years. To date, $12 million have been raised through this campaign, creating a great momentum for the years to come.
Ambassadors Who Take a Stand for Life
The success of the campaign so far is made possible thanks to the commitment of its cabinet of ambassadors, composed of numerous leaders from the business community who were present at the event. They all firmly believe in the importance of the synergy between the IRCM and the business community.
As Mr. André Couillard, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, reminded us in his introduction, "the pandemic has made the public aware of the importance of investing upstream in impactful research. More than ever, the IRCM Foundation has a trusted role to play in ensuring that the public's generosity reaches the researchers whose work changes lives.
For Dr. Jean-François Côté, Interim President and Scientific Director of the Institute, "this major campaign comes at a crucial time for the IRCM, as our community of researchers, students and professionals devote their daily lives to improving the knowledge that will help prevent, diagnose and treat a variety of diseases that threaten our lives."
Projects that will change lives
The Foundation's Capital campaign will advance more than two dozen high-priority, impactful research projects in cancer, metabolic, genetic and neurological diseases, as well as immunodeficiencies and infectious diseases. These highly promising projects will also pave the way for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that will improve the health of the population. In addition, this capital campaign will make it possible to acquire cutting-edge equipment and to train the next generation of excellent scientists in various fields.
Tribute to a Distinguished Volunteer
The Annual Dinner was also an opportunity to highlight the contribution of Mr. Alain Fontaine, former Chief Financial Officer of Guillevin International, who recently passed away after a long and courageous battle against cancer. A great ally of the IRCM Foundation, Alain Fontaine was a source of inspiration for many, including Mr. Luc Rodier, President and CEO of Guillevin International, and current Honorary Chair of the Annual Dinner.
"At Guillevin, we felt it was our duty to pay tribute to this committed man, Alain Fontaine, in order to honour his memory, his courage and to continue his involvement! Thus, in addition to accepting the honorary presidency of this gala, we have established the Alain Fontaine Chair in Cancer at the IRCM. This philanthropic chair will allow Dr. Jean-François Côté's team to advance its research work on cancer," explained Mr. Rodier to the Annual Dinner guests.
Review the broadcast of the event:
The IRCM Foundation would like to extend its warmest thanks to the loyal partners of the Annual Dinner, without whom the success of the event would not have been possible.
