Giving to Mackenzie Health is a tradition with deep roots in the Berwick family.
Mavis, and her twin daughters, Diane and Denise, made their first gift in honour of their husband and father seven years ago.
As longtime former King Township residents, when the need arose, the family had always turned to Mackenzie Health – then known as York Central Hospital – but Mrs. Berwick and her daughters were particularly grateful for the exceptional care provided to Robert Berwick before his death.
The Berwick Family Auditorium, a well-used and integral space for gatherings at Mackenzie Health, marks the family’s legacy of generosity.
Most recently, the Berwick family chose to make a gift of state-of-the-art equipment to Mackenzie Health’s laboratory, knowing it would benefit patients by reducing wait times and increasing efficiencies for lab technicians. These investments were major technology investments for Mackenzie Health’s diagnostic program.
Their generous gift honouring Diane and Denise, provided for: a Cytology Thin Prep Processor, the gold standard in cancer screening; Analyzer and Interface Software, which increases efficiencies for blood groups and screens eight-fold; and a Cell Washer, which automates the cell washing process for anti-globin tests.
Benefiting the lab was a cause close to the family’s heart.
Mrs. Berwick said they made the donation in the hope the diagnostic processes and laboratory would speed up for everybody because we know how hard it is for a patient to have to wait for hours.
Helping to purchase equipment would increase the efficiency of the very busy lab was one of the most impactful ways to benefit a large number of patients, including the high volume in the Nick and Roseanne Cortellucci Family Emergency Department requiring blood work, as well as support medical staff in providing world-class care, she added.
Making a gift to the hospital not only creates a meaningful legacy for your loved ones, but provides an opportunity to give back in a way that benefits many others.
“Everybody has to use the hospital at one time or another in their lives,” Mrs. Berwick said.