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Gairdner
Campaign for the Gairdner Foundation
The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 and is dedicated to recognizing major research contributions to the treatment of disease and the alleviation of human suffering. Through the prestigious annual Canada Gairdner Awards, the Foundation has raised the profile of Canada as a nation that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. Since 1959, more than 418 international scientists have received the Canada Gairdner Award and 102 have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize. The Canada Gairdner Awards are recognized internationally as being among the most prestigious in the world, based on our reputation for rigorous review and early recognition of breakthroughs in science.
While our accomplishments to date are impressive, there is no margin for stasis in our constantly changing environment. In response to this, the Gairdner Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign to raise $25 million to implement new programs and activities that celebrate scientific excellence and promote a culture of, and investment in, the future leaders and science and innovation across Canada and around the globe. It will augment our already prestigious awards programs, improve the well-being of those facing health inequalities worldwide and enhance our cutting -edge educational programming to increase science literacy. It will increase our ability to retain our brightest talent and inspire young minds to pursue a career in science. It will allow the Foundation to respond quickly to new and innovative opportunities and challenges.
Campaign Priorities
Our mission is to celebrate, inform and inspire scientific excellence around the globe. To do this we look to our community of friends and supporters to secure the future activities of the Foundation in four priority areas:
1. Enhancing Health Outcomes in the Developing World
The Covid-19 pandemic served as a harrowing reminder of our shared vulnerability. It demonstrated unequivocally that the health of the individual is inextricably linked to the great global health network. Diseases know no boundaries, and as such, our efforts to combat them must also transcend borders, cultures and socio-economic divides.
By championing global health equity, the Gairdner Foundation can not only uphold the most vulnerable and marginalized among us but also strengthen our global community around future health-related challenges. We will work to ensure that health equity is not just an ideal, but a reality for all. We will support this goal by:
- Enhancing the value of the Canada Gairdner Global Health Award
- Establishing Global Early Career Investigator and Global Implementation Champion Prizes
- Hosting and annual International Global Health Symposium
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2. Fostering an Informed Society
The importance of science literacy has never been more vital as Canadians grapple with complex scientific issues affecting their lives and a proliferation of misinformation disseminated online. The world is facing some very intricate scientific issues that are truly global. Canadians need to know where to turn for reliable, applicable information while having the ability to separate fact from fiction.
The Gairdner Foundation’s goal is to increase its presence as a trusted voice of health-related science in Canada. We are uniquely positioned to achieve this given our unparalleled ability to convene leaders from science worldwide. The Gairdner Foundation will become a leading advocate for science and increase science literacy in Canada through the creation of timely and relevant content to the Canadian public. We will accomplish this by:
- Enriching our relationship with the community
- Growing our international partnerships
- Enhancing our digital assets
- Hosting Gairdner Science Week
3. Developing, Recognizing and Retaining Canadian Talent
The Gairdner Foundation leverages the presence of Gairdner laureates in Canada to develop programming that inspires high school students, undergraduate students and post-graduate trainees to pursue careers in science and entrepreneurship. Increasing investment in the next generation of Canadian researchers and expanding our outreach and mentorship will allow the Gairdner Foundation to help Canada retain it brightest talent, attract new talent and support the development of Canada’s scientific knowledge economy with defined touchpoints throughout the careers of the next generation of researchers. We will accomplish this by:
- Formalizing the Early Career Investigator Awards and Competition
- Creating the Gairdner Scholars Research Mentorship Program
4. Capitalizing on Emerging Opportunities - The Friends of Gairdner Fund
Our mission is unique, and so are our challenges. As the global science and health landscape changes, we must adapt to these changes to ensure our awards and programs continue to resonate and set the stage for a more informed and educated society. Unrestricted funding is vital for the Gairdner Foundation to fulfill its mission. Whether it is an investment in a program, enhancing organizational infrastructure, or costs of expansion, we require flexible funds to provide maximum impact.
Donate to Gairdner
Your support is critical to our mission. By supporting the Campaign for the Gairdner Foundation, you are championing scientific excellence and contributing to the advancement of global health and wellbeing. Together, we can improve the wellbeing of those facing health inequalities, enhance literacy and awareness in science, inspiring the next generation of scientists, and supporting innovative initiatives that accelerate the pace of discovery.
Please join us in our quest to drive scientific excellence around the globe.
Donate by Cheque
Make a donation to Gairdner with a cheque made out to the Gairdner Foundation. Include your full name, address, phone number and mail your cheque to:
Gairdner foundation
MaRS Centre, Heritage Building,
101 College St, Suite 335,
Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G1L7
Attn: David White
For U.S. Donors
For United States-based donors requiring a tax receipt, please use the following link and you will be directed to the secure CAF America website. CAF America processes and generates receipts for American donations to the Gairdner Foundation.
Donate to Gairdner via CAF America
BN / registration number: 119234433 RR0002
If you have any questions or would like more information on the Campaign for the Gairdner Foundation, please contact David White.
Inquiries
Contact DAVID WHITE, DIRECTOR, CAMPAIGN AND MAJOR GIFTS at DAVID@GAIRDNER.ORG
Campaign Leadership
Co-Chairs
Gail O’Brien, Director, Gairdner Foundation
John Risley, Director Emerita, Gairdner Foundation and President, Clearwater Seafoods Inc.
Members
Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou, Associate Professor, North Carolina State University (Laureate)
Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, Director, Gairdner Foundation and President Emerita, University of Calgary
Mary Federau, Executive Vice-President, Mattamy Asset Management and Chair, The Peter Gilgan Foundation
Mark Krembil, President, Krembil Foundation
Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum, Chairperson, Gairdner Foundation and Emerita Principal and Vice-Chancellor (President), McGill University
Dr. Phil Sharp, Director, Gairdner Foundation and Member, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Laureate)
Shanitha Kachan
Staff
Dr. Janet Rossant, President and Scientific Director
Paige O’Beirne, Director, Operations
David White, Director, Campaign and Major Gifts