December 3, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHW receives the largest transformative endowment gift in CHW history
of $6.5 Million from Marla & Aubrey Dan 

Toronto, Canada – Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW) announced that it has received the largest transformative endowment gift in CHW history from Marla and Aubrey Dan of $6.5 million to be used in Israel to launch the DAN Department of Creative Human Design at Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem as well as the Marla Dan Interventional Radiology Institute at The Shamir Medical Centre (Assaf Harofeh) in Be’er Ya’akov.

Marla and Aubrey Dan are long-time supporters of CHW’s projects and programs. Marla Dan was the CHW National President between 2009-2014, and continues to provide indispensable leadership and mentorship. Aubrey Dan is a Canadian businessman as well as a Tony-Award® winning theatre producer (MEMPHIS). He is the principal of Dancap Family Investment Office. They are very generous philanthropists, who make high impact, transformational gifts in healthcare, community, and education in Canada and Israel through the Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation (AMDF). Their daughter Alyse is a CHW member and the Executive Director of AMDF.

As donors and major supporters of CHW, Marla and Aubrey Dan invest financial resources as well as a great deal of their personal time. Marla has dedicated over 30 years to the organization, serving as National President for six years; an outstanding accomplishment of its own. Marla is a passionate supporter of CHW’s mission, vision, and values. Marla said, “Our endowment is the gift that will keep on giving: investment income generated from the endowment gift will be allocated to Hadassah Academic College, The Shamir Medical Centre (Assaf Harofeh), as well as to CHW, to ensure the strategic needs of the organization are met. The goal of our gift is to help ensure the longevity of our hundred-year-old organization; to help CHW flourish and remain relevant for the next 100 years.”

The donation to the DAN Department of Creative Human Design will provide scholarship support to deserving and qualified students; support guest lecturers, academic seminars and conferences with colleagues from Israel and abroad; support workshops to improve teaching methods and approaches for faculty; facilitate international student exchange; and enable the Department to pursue collaborative efforts with academic institutions and medical centres in Israel and overseas. 2 of 2

Alina Ianson, CHW National Executive Director, noted: “The DAN Department of Creative Human Design is the only undergraduate department in Industrial Design in the world focusing on the design of tools and products for the benefit of overlooked populations with special needs, including the physically challenged, the elderly, and the very young.”

The donation to the Marla Dan Interventional Radiology Institute will provide healthcare professionals with modern tools and equipment, so patients requiring urgent care are never turned away. The updates to the Institute will ensure patients have access to life-saving procedures and a chance for a full recovery.

According to Dr. Osnat Levtzion-Korach, Director General of The Shamir Medical Centre (Assaf Harofeh), “The donation to the Marla Dan Interventional Radiology Institute will help secure state of the art non-invasive radiological equipment, ensuring the hospital can continue to provide the best in personal care, diagnosis, and medical treatment.”

Founded in 1917, CHW is a non-political, non-partisan national network of dedicated volunteers and professionals who strongly believe that the advancement of childcare, education, healthcare, and women’s issues transcends politics, religion, and national boundaries.

CHW passionately supports programs and services for Children, Healthcare, and Women in Israel and Canada.

For further information, please contact:

Alina Ianson, CHW National Executive Director
CHW National Office
638A Sheppard Avenue West, Suite 209 Toronto, ON M3H 2S1
Tel: 1-855-477-5964
Email: alina@chw.ca