TORONTO, ON (October 25, 2019) – Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) announced a $100,000 donation from the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (OFCP), at the OFCP’s Annual General Meeting held at Holland Bloorview today. The OFCP is committed to supporting independence, inclusion, and full integration of all persons with cerebral palsy in Ontario. The gift will be earmarked for Holland Bloorview’s new MRI suite, the first in Canada to be immersive, customizable, child-friendly and fully accessible. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019.

“The OFCP is dedicated to supporting the most advanced and highest quality of cerebral palsy research, including the cure, cause, prevention, improved treatment and understanding of the condition,” said Linda Bowen, president of the OFCP’s board of directors. “We are honoured to support Holland Bloorview’s efforts to enhance and transform the lives of the children and youth who receive care within and beyond its walls.”

The MRI will be used exclusively for research purposes and will allow imaging scientists at Holland Bloorview to scan hundreds of children and youth with and without disability in large-scale studies.

“Holland Bloorview’s new research tool will be critical for us to determine how brain development cascades through its stages – from infancy to childhood, adolescence and young adulthood,” said Dr. Tomáš Paus, distinguished senior scientist, Holland Bloorview. “We are fortunate to the have the support of organizations like OFCP, who share our vision for kids and youth with disabilities.” 

The MRI installation is part of the hospital’s Grow Holland Bloorview Research campaign designed to spark investment in infrastructure, technology and people as a means to transform the future of childhood disability research. Expansion of the Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), scheduled for completion in 2022, will include 10,000 square feet of space for new scientists, discovery hubs, as well as a new commercialization zone. The campaign is entirely funded by community donors.

“We are so grateful to the OFCP for their commitment to creating the most meaningful and healthy futures for kids and their families. This gift makes a significant and tangible difference not only to our clients and their families, but also to research into life-changing innovations that will benefit kids and youth around the globe,” said Sandra Hawken, president and CEO, Holland Bloorview Foundation. 

For more information about the BRI and to support its growth, visit hollandbloorview.ca/growBRI.  

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About Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital creates a world of possibility by supporting children and youth living with disability, medical complexity, illness and injury. Holland Bloorview is a top 40 Canadian research hospital that is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and serves over 7,500 families annually. Providing both inpatient and outpatient services, Holland Bloorview is renowned for its expertise in partnering with clients and families to provide exceptional care and is the only organization to ever achieve 100 per cent in two successive quality surveys by Accreditation Canada. Holland Bloorview is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, consistent and coordinated approach to pediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families. For more information or to donate, please visit hollandbloorview.ca or connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and parent-blog BLOOM.

About the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy

The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (OFCP) is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to supporting people with cerebral palsy (CP) in Ontario for over 70 years. The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy is committed to supporting the most advanced and highest quality of Cerebral Palsy research, including the cure, cause, prevention, improved treatment and/or understanding of cerebral palsy. We are an organization committed to supporting independence, inclusion, choice and full integration of all persons with cerebral palsy. The OFCP does this by providing and initiating a wide range of services, resources and programs for people with CP and their families as well as professional organizations. These services can range from funding assistance for much needed equipment and life enriching activities, to assistance with system navigation. The OFCP’s programs and services are funded almost entirely as a benefit of the collection and resale of used clothing and other used goods, as well as corporate and private donations and bequests. For more information about OFCP, or how to donate, please visit OFCP.ca or connect on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ashley Cruz
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
acruz@hollandbloorview.ca
T: 416-425-6220 ext. 6409 | C: 647-406-3567