The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation has made history reaching its goal of raising $1 billion through its Billion Dollar Challenge campaign. This is the largest single fundraising campaign in the history of Canadian healthcare to support the creation and delivery of personalized cancer medicine.
It began with two donation envelopes, totaling $5.18, from a young girl, Elle, whose grandfather had been treated at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
Her heartfelt gift, on April 12, 2012, launched the Foundation's Billion Dollar Challenge with the goal to secure $500 million through philanthropy and another $500 million through research grants over five years.
Through the support of generous donors, participants, granting agencies, volunteers and staff, $532 million has been secured in philanthropic support and $520 million has been secured in research grants by the Princess Margaret, for a total of $1,052,000,000.
These gifts, and many others made over the past five years, have allowed the cancer centre to develop various services, programs, and research.
"This is a significant achievement that has enabled the cancer centre to expand its scientific and clinical research in key areas including epigenetics, bioinformatics, drug development, and immunotherapy," says Peter Pisters, UHN President and CEO.
"I would like to congratulate The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and also thank the many supporters who have helped in reaching this goal, which brings us many steps closer to providing more targeted, effective therapies for patients."
To learn more about the amazing work supported by the Billion Dollar Challenge campaign, visit
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation website.
