The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry recognized four of its donors at the National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon Nov. 19.
The annual luncheon is held to honour and acknowledge outstanding achievements by individuals, foundations, corporations, fundraising volunteers and non-profit organizations who contribute their time, talents, financial support and other resources to the philanthropic community in Edmonton.
This year the faculty recognized four groups: the Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund, the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta, the Alberta Dental Association and College, and the Brad Mates/E-Drive Celebrity Tournament Committee.
The Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund has provided close to $3 million to the Department of Surgery since the late 1960s and was one of the initial supporters of Ray Rajotte, a worldwide leader in the field of islet transplantation.
"Their support has also been useful in training and supporting the research of many resident physicians who have gone on to become academics and professors of surgery," said Douglas Miller, dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
The College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta regulates the practice of dental hygiene in Alberta and has been integral in advancing the profession provincially, notably through the regulation of dental hygiene under the Health Professions Act, which means hygienists may work without the supervision of a dentist. This regulatory change opened various opportunities for the provision of dental hygiene care to Albertans.
The Alberta Dental Association and College registers dentists and ensures that oral health of Albertans is advancing through safe, available, affordable, quality and ethical dental services. The ADA&C's executive director and registrar,. Gord Thompson, is a former dean of the dentistry school, and the current president, Mark Bochinski, is a clinical associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
"Through their examples of giving, our associations set the bar high for creating a philanthropic culture," said Tom Stevenson, associate chair, Student & External Affairs, for the School of Dentistry.
"We receive a tremendous amount of support from both the ADA&C and the CRDHA," said Paul Major, professor, chair and senior associate dean for the School of Dentistry. "The support we receive comes in many different forms and recognizing them at [this] luncheon is one way we can show our appreciation for their amazing work."
The final group recognized for their philanthropy was the Brad Mates E-Drive Celebrity Tournament Committee, which was created by Brad Mates, lead singer of Emerson Drive, a Grammy-nominated country band founded in Grande Prairie. Mates' father has Parkinson's Disease and, among numerous fundraising drives, the group organized three celebrity golf tournaments to raise $500,000 for a Parkinson's research endowment at the University of Alberta.
"Recognizing these groups was of utmost importance to the faculty because of the incredible support they provide the medical and dental schools," said Miller. "We can't thank them enough for all the support and we hope to continue our strong relationships with all four groups."