> Donation of $4 million to improve children’s health
Donation of $4 million to improve children’s health
Contact:
Hamid Eshghi, Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation, 604.984.2899
Erica Branda, University Advancement, 778.782.3353, ebranda@sfu.ca
(photo of Mowafaghian outside the health sciences building available)
Hamid Eshghi, Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation, 604.984.2899
Erica Branda, University Advancement, 778.782.3353, ebranda@sfu.ca
(photo of Mowafaghian outside the health sciences building available)
January 24, 2008
A $4 million donation to Simon Fraser University from philanthropist Djavad Mowafaghian will help improve the lives of children worldwide. The gift will provide $2.5 million to support research in children’s health policy and $1.5 million to construct and outfit a level 3 containment laboratory for infectious disease research.
SFU’s new faculty of health sciences aims to prevent disease, rather than just cure it. The gift will help researchers in SFU’s interdisciplinary children’s health policy centre and in the infectious disease area focus their efforts on children.
The health policy centre aims to ensure that the latest scientific research is integrated into policy and programs with the goal of improving children’s social and emotional development and mental health.
The level 3 containment laboratory will allow scientists to work with live viruses and, together with policy experts and health care professionals, translate their findings into informed global public health recommendations that can minimize the spread of disease in children.
According to the World Health Organization’s 2005 World Health Report, almost 90% of all deaths among children under five years of age are attributable to five infectious diseases: lower respiratory infections (mostly pneumonia), diarrhea, malaria, measles and HIV/AIDS.
“Children are one of the most important investments that we can make,” says Mowafaghian. “They are the foundation of our society and need to be healthy to learn. Health and education are basic human rights, essential for a happy and productive life.”
Says SFU President Michael Stevenson, “Over the years, Djavad Mowafaghian has demonstrated a deep commitment to making a difference for children by improving education and health. He has supported numerous hospital facilities, schools and scholarship programs, here and abroad. This is his first investment in basic academic research, and I am delighted at his level of confidence in our new health sciences faculty. ”
In recognition of this generous gift, SFU will name the two most public spaces in the new faculty of health sciences building in his honour – the Djavad Mowafaghian Atrium, which will be one of the main entrances to the university, and the Djavad Mowafaghian Lecture Theatre.
SFU’s new faculty of health sciences aims to prevent disease, rather than just cure it. The gift will help researchers in SFU’s interdisciplinary children’s health policy centre and in the infectious disease area focus their efforts on children.
The health policy centre aims to ensure that the latest scientific research is integrated into policy and programs with the goal of improving children’s social and emotional development and mental health.
The level 3 containment laboratory will allow scientists to work with live viruses and, together with policy experts and health care professionals, translate their findings into informed global public health recommendations that can minimize the spread of disease in children.
According to the World Health Organization’s 2005 World Health Report, almost 90% of all deaths among children under five years of age are attributable to five infectious diseases: lower respiratory infections (mostly pneumonia), diarrhea, malaria, measles and HIV/AIDS.
“Children are one of the most important investments that we can make,” says Mowafaghian. “They are the foundation of our society and need to be healthy to learn. Health and education are basic human rights, essential for a happy and productive life.”
Says SFU President Michael Stevenson, “Over the years, Djavad Mowafaghian has demonstrated a deep commitment to making a difference for children by improving education and health. He has supported numerous hospital facilities, schools and scholarship programs, here and abroad. This is his first investment in basic academic research, and I am delighted at his level of confidence in our new health sciences faculty. ”
In recognition of this generous gift, SFU will name the two most public spaces in the new faculty of health sciences building in his honour – the Djavad Mowafaghian Atrium, which will be one of the main entrances to the university, and the Djavad Mowafaghian Lecture Theatre.
Backgrounder:
Djavad Mowafaghian and the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation
Philosophy:
The Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation’s mandate is to better the lives of children through health and education.
Personal background:
Mowafaghian earned his fortune as a developer in Iran before moving to Vancouver in 1987. His father passed away when he was a young child, and he was raised in a modest household by his mother. He attributes his passion for giving back to the community to her influence.
Over the past 30 years, Mowafaghian has demonstrated his passion for “giving back” by funding various philanthropic projects and donating to various charities throughout the world. In 2003, he created and funded the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation to guarantee the continuation of his philanthropy.
Djavad Mowafaghian’s International philanthropic contributions include:
• Providing more than 70 scholarships for international students in London
• Funding the construction of four “pressure rooms” for bone morrow transplants in Geneva, Switzerland
• Funding the construction of 16 Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools and eight trade and technical schools in Iran
• Funding a heart surgery centre in Iran
• Funding the construction of six schools and dormitories for the visually and hearing impaired in Iran
Other local philanthropic contributions:
In 2004 Mowafaghian donated $6 million to the BC Children’s Hospital to pay for a 50,000 square foot redevelopment of the hospital’s oncology unit and adjacent outpatient clinics.
At the time it was the largest donation from an individual in the history of the Children’s Hospital. The construction was completed in 2007 and the new wing is aptly named the Djavad Mowafaghian Wing.
In 2005 the foundation committed $750,000 to The Centre for Child Development in Surrey, BC. The centre provides intensive therapy and support services to over 1,800 children per year and provides child care services throughout the South Fraser Region.
Mowafaghian and his foundation support numerous other charitable organizations throughout the Lower Mainland including:
• BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
• Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society
• Peach Arch Community Services
• Community Policing
• Junior Achievement of BC
• Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
• Arts Umbrella
• International Childcare Society
Djavad Mowafaghian and the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation
Philosophy:
The Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation’s mandate is to better the lives of children through health and education.
Personal background:
Mowafaghian earned his fortune as a developer in Iran before moving to Vancouver in 1987. His father passed away when he was a young child, and he was raised in a modest household by his mother. He attributes his passion for giving back to the community to her influence.
Over the past 30 years, Mowafaghian has demonstrated his passion for “giving back” by funding various philanthropic projects and donating to various charities throughout the world. In 2003, he created and funded the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation to guarantee the continuation of his philanthropy.
Djavad Mowafaghian’s International philanthropic contributions include:
• Providing more than 70 scholarships for international students in London
• Funding the construction of four “pressure rooms” for bone morrow transplants in Geneva, Switzerland
• Funding the construction of 16 Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools and eight trade and technical schools in Iran
• Funding a heart surgery centre in Iran
• Funding the construction of six schools and dormitories for the visually and hearing impaired in Iran
Other local philanthropic contributions:
In 2004 Mowafaghian donated $6 million to the BC Children’s Hospital to pay for a 50,000 square foot redevelopment of the hospital’s oncology unit and adjacent outpatient clinics.
At the time it was the largest donation from an individual in the history of the Children’s Hospital. The construction was completed in 2007 and the new wing is aptly named the Djavad Mowafaghian Wing.
In 2005 the foundation committed $750,000 to The Centre for Child Development in Surrey, BC. The centre provides intensive therapy and support services to over 1,800 children per year and provides child care services throughout the South Fraser Region.
Mowafaghian and his foundation support numerous other charitable organizations throughout the Lower Mainland including:
• BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
• Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society
• Peach Arch Community Services
• Community Policing
• Junior Achievement of BC
• Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
• Arts Umbrella
• International Childcare Society