Our first goal -- The RTO/ERO Endowed Chair in Geriatrics

The RTO/ERO Endowed Chair in Geriatrics -
our initial project and fundraising goal

Beginning in 2011, The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation is committed to an initial, major project of raising $3 million over the next three years to fund The RTO/ERO Chair in Geriatrics in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

How will funds be raised?

• Funds for The RTO/ERO Chair in Geriatrics will be raised through voluntary contributions primarily from RTO/ERO members and also from voluntarily fundraising by Districts and members.
• Major gifts, institutional contributions, planned giving and bequests will also be part of our fundraising efforts.
• RTO/ERO has over 65,000 members and is growing by about 2,000 members each year. 
  • If 10,000 members contributed $10 monthly ($120 gross annually per person, about $85 net after tax deductions) for three years, the goal would easily be reached.
  • If 1,200 members donated $70 monthly for three years ($840 gross annually per person, about $600 net after tax deductions), the goal would be attained.

Setting an example for fundraising

The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation Endowed Chair in Geriatrics goal is an opportunity to set an example that changes the model of fundraising for medical research. It is not a wealthy donor or a pharmaceutical company leading the way, but a collective of teachers establishing a path we hope other groups will follow.

Why the University of Toronto?

The Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto has the largest Regional Geriatric Program in Ontario with a network of 28 participating institutions whose services span the continuum of hospital and community based care.

These include:

• The Peterborough Civic Hospital and Regional Health Centre
• The Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie
• The Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket
• The Brampton Memorial Site
• The Georgetown Site
• The Mississauga Site
• as well as sites in Markham, Ajax, Lakeridge, Oshawa, and Whitby.
• For full list go to http://rgp.toronto.on.ca

The RTO/ERO Provincial Executive will have a say in the general direction to be pursued by the RTO/ERO Endowed Chair in Geriatrics at the University of Toronto.

What will The RTO/ERO Endowed Chair in Geriatrics do?

• The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation will establish, maintain and support The RTO/ERO Endowed Chair in Geriatrics at the University of Toronto with an emphasis on the promotion of interdisciplinary training among health care professionals and a focus to improve the quality of life of seniors and of older Canadians.
• The Chair in Geriatrics is a specialist physician dedicated to research that impacts the quality of life of seniors, and to training health care workers and doctors who tend seniors.
• An endowed chair is an endowed faculty position which is supported by the annual payout from a privately funded endowment. The endowment may cover the faculty salary, research and travel stipends or other associated costs and continues in perpetuity. (Source: Wikitionary)