Who: The Mierins Family Foundation
The donation: $250,000 match donation
The recipient: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
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The inspiration: “We knew it was not an option to do nothing. We want to show our gratitude to the frontline health-care workers at The Ottawa Hospital.” – Lisa Mierins, Mierins Family Foundation
When you talk to donors about their generosity, they usually tell a story of human connections and strong relationships. Lisa Mierins is no different.
Mierins, the co-president of the Mierins Family Foundation, has seen the impact of The Ottawa Hospital first-hand through the experiences of her father.
“Since 2013, our father has been in and out of The Ottawa Hospital. Like everyone else seeing globally the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and test kits, my family and I could not imagine the extra pressure this puts on health-care staff,” Mierins says. “It is important to give during a crisis.”
The gift of up to $250,000 is a match donation opportunity for the community. This element of the gift is important to the Mierins family.
“I have always found people in Ottawa to be generous and, during these unprecedented times, we wanted to inspire family, friends and business associates to show their support for frontline health-care workers,” says Mierins. “Whether it is a big or small donation, we all need to step up and make a difference.”
The funds will help patients and staff directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes funding the efforts of researchers to contribute to the global fight against the virus, developing innovative treatments, supporting frontline medical teams and purchasing equipment and supplies as well as contributing to the care and comfort of patients.
“We are absolutely grateful to Lisa and her family, who have been supporters of the hospital for a while now, for their leadership at this challenging time,” says Tim Kluke, president and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. “Lisa’s family acting so quickly and stepping up in a significant way was inspiring.”
Established two years ago, The Mierins Family Foundation is led by Lisa and her brother Arnie as co-presidents and includes her sister-in-law Victoria as well as one of Lisa’s sons, Patrick Bourque. The goal of the foundation is to provide an immediate and lasting impact on the lives of others by supporting programs that challenge the status quo with an innovative approach to caring for others and those with a compelling ability to help people in need.
Philanthropy in Ottawa is a new monthly feature highlighting notable donations in Ottawa. Share your stories of philanthropy in our community with news@obj.ca. And be sure to read the latest edition of OBJ’s Giving Guide:
