London, Ont. — As London Health Sciences Foundation (LHSF) marks its 30th anniversary, we are reflecting on the incredible impact made possible through the generosity of our community of donors and celebrating all that has been achieved over the past 30 years. Over the past three decades, nearly 300,000 donors have collectively contributed more than $750 million to support patients at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).
Founded on July 11, 1996, through the amalgamation of the University and Victoria hospital foundations, LHSF has since received nearly 1.4 million gifts from donors in support of equipment, research, training and education and programs that directly impact patient care.
“Donor support shows up in the work we do every day, in ways patients may not always see but certainly feel,” said Dr. David Palma, radiation oncologist at LHSC and physician champion for donor-supported care, as well as an LHSF board member. “Through tools that help us diagnose sooner, treatments that are less invasive and spaces that make a difficult time a little easier for patients and families. It’s the kind of impact you see in real moments, not just on paper. Because of this community, we’re able to care for people in ways that simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise.”
Over the past 30 years, donor generosity has helped transform care across every corner of the hospital—from funding life-saving equipment and breakthrough research to supporting specialized programs and creating spaces designed around the needs of patients and families. It has enabled clinicians to adopt new technologies, researchers to pursue innovative discoveries and care teams to deliver treatments closer to home, faster and more effectively than ever before. Behind every advancement is a community that chose to invest in better health care for generations to come.
The scale of donor-driven impact is visible across LHSC.
Here are some notable accomplishments made possible by philanthropy
1999:
One of the first $1 million-plus gifts in LHSF’s history came from the LHSC Auxiliary. Their $5 million pledge strengthened women’s care and, in part, supported the build of the Grace Donnelly Women’s Health Pavilion, providing family-centred care for women and children in the community. In total, they have contributed over $10 million to projects across LHSC over the past 30 years.
2003:
LHSC’s funding partners and LHSF donors invested over $18 million in Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics (CSTAR), Canada’s national centre for developing and testing minimally invasive and robotic surgeries. Since then, CSTAR has helped position LHSC at the forefront of surgical innovation, contributing to many Canadian, North American and world firsts in robotic-assisted surgery, from cardiac and cancer procedures to breakthroughs in urology, gastrointestinal surgery, neurosurgery and orthopaedics.
2006:
Donor funding established the First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP), delivering specialized mental health care for youth aged 16 to 25. To date, it has supported more than 5,000 patients. .
2019:
Established through a $1.5-million gift, the Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer has advanced specialized surgical and pancreatic cancer care, improving patient outcomes across Southwestern Ontario. To date, the Centre has supported more than 950 patients and contributed to several clinical trials.
2022:
A $1-million lead donation supported the opening of the Nazem Kadri Surgical Centre, increasing surgical capacity by more than 1,000 complex procedures annually. Now, additional funding from Ontario's Ministry of Health will expand the centre to six operating rooms, freeing up capacity at LHSC for more intensive surgeries while reducing wait times for less complex procedures so patients can receive care sooner.
2024:
A historic $20-million gift led to the naming of the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, the largest foundation-supported gift in Southwestern Ontario’s history. This gift has since established two new chairs at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry representing an important step forward in strengthening cancer research across London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute and Western.
Fundraising
Community-driven fundraising continues to strengthen the impact donors have on patient care. Through the Foundation’s annual events, Londoners continue to raise awareness while supporting critical care, research and services patients and families rely on.
“For 30 years, the Foundation’s success has been built on the generosity, compassion and commitment of our community,” said Thomas Burnett, Chair of the Board at LHSF. “Every dollar raised and every event organized reflects a shared belief that together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families across Southwestern Ontario.”
Several Community Event fundraising initiatives have now surpassed $1 million raised individually, with some community-led events generating more than $3 million, underscoring the enduring generosity and commitment of local supporters. Among them, the Foundation’s annual Country Classic Auction has raised more than $13.7 million to date in support of priorities across LHSC, including cancer, cardiac care and mental health.
“Thirty years of impact is built not in giant leaps, but in thousands of small, generous steps,” said John H. MacFarlane, president and CEO of LHSF. “Because of our community—our donors, volunteers, board members and staff—patients have access to innovation, expertise and hope when they need it most. This milestone belongs to you, and to the healthier future we continue to build together.”
As LHSF marks its 30th anniversary, the need for donor support remains ongoing—fueling new approaches in research, treatment and care at a time when health systems face growing pressure.
Visit our 30th anniversary webpage to learn more.