MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BAYCREST FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE BAYCREST FOUNDATION
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In 1913, Slova Greenberg, president of the Ezras Nashim Society, proclaimed, "We can't have our old folks sleeping in the park. Go knock door-to-door. Tell people what's the matter and ask for donations." Thus began the first successful fundrais- ing campaign for what would later become Baycrest Health Sciences. As we prepare to embark on our next century, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come during the first hundred years.
Given our deep and rich tradition within the Jewish community, it follows that we are one of a hand- ful of entities within the city which has historically been the recipient of its steadfast and unwavering philanthropic support.
Our donor community has been instrumental in making Baycrest what it is today: an academic health sciences centre fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, with a budget of $150 million, 2,000 staff, 2,000 volunteers and 1,000 students per year. Baycrest Health Sciences provides programs and services to approximately 2,500 people a day through a unique continuum of care that includes wellness programs, residential housing, outpatient clinics, a 472-bed nursing home, a 192-suite assisted living facility, a 120-suite independent living facility, and a 300-bed complex continuing care hospital with an acute care unit.
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In its entirety, Baycrest provides 273,000 patient days of care during 60,000 patient visits annually to a patient population that represents the diversity of the Greater Toronto Area. In fact, our entities with the largest patient populations – the hospital, outpatient and community programs – draw 70 per cent of their patients from outside the Jewish community. As our patient community grows and broadens to reflect the diversity of our city, so too does our donor community.
Strong donor support has enabled Baycrest to become a leader in advancements in patient care as well as in cognitive neuroscience and memory research, with the goal of transforming the journey of aging. The global reputation of the Rotman Research Institute reflects its ability to raise and answer fundamental questions about memory, aging and the neuroscience of cognition. The affiliated Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied and Evalua- tive Research Unit leads the way in demonstrating how this research informs applied, translational research around the world.
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2011/12 Baycrest and Baycrest Foundation Annual Report
