TORONTO, ON (May 3, 2018) – Today, the Raymond Chang Foundation announced a $2 million donation to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s research institute to establish a commercialization zone and incubator space as part of the hospital’s $25 million fundraising campaign.

Over the next few years, the Bloorview Research Institute will be expanding to accommodate more talent, facilities, and state-of-the-art equipment. The Raymond Chang Foundation funds will be used to help launch a commercialization and incubator space to amplify our culture of innovation, establish new industry partnerships and advance Holland Bloorview’s innovations to the market, making them accessible to children and youth with disabilities and creating life-changing impact for clients and families worldwide.

“The Chang Family is immensely proud to support Holland Bloorview’s increasing innovative capacity and the launch of its commercialization space. The impact that the hospital has on the daily lives of their clients is truly amazing,” says Brigette Chang-Addorisio. “Holland Bloorview has changed the landscape of children’s rehabilitation, and we are excited to see their innovations brought to the forefront with industry partners.”

The late G. Raymond Chang was a visionary philanthropist who made an enormous impact on Holland Bloorview’s research institute through his incredible generosity. Mr. Chang gave his first gift to Holland Bloorview in 2006 and later went on to give an extraordinary $3 million gift to establish the Raymond Chang Foundation Chair in Access Innovations, which is currently held by Dr. Tom Chau, senior scientist and vice-president of research at Holland Bloorview.

“With this generous $2 million donation, Andrew and Brigette Chang are honouring their father’s aspiration to take Holland Bloorview’s research to the next level,” says Sandra Hawken, President and CEO of Holland Bloorview Foundation. “We are so grateful to the Raymond Chang Foundation and are honoured to announce that the east wing of Holland Bloorview’s research institute will be named the G. Raymond Chang wing in recognition of the Chang family’s philanthropy.”

The Bloorview Research Institute was established in 2004 and has developed life-changing innovations with global impact such as the all-terrain knee, brain-computer interfaces; research programs to improve quality of life and health determinants; initiatives that challenge disability stereotypes and stigma; and, exploration of how technology, music and the arts, genetics and more contribute to the lives children and youth with disabilities lead. For more information and to support the growth of the Bloorview Research Institute, 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 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. Holland Bloorview is the only organization to ever achieve 100 per cent in two successive quality surveys by Accreditation Canada.

Media Contact
Erin Johnston Manager, Public Engagement
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation
ejohnston@hollandbloorview.ca
416-753-6051