Philanthropist helps raise $25 million to create Hamilton’s only children’s hospice
Published August 18, 2022 at 8:38 am
It’s a difficult topic to broach, but many terminally ill individuals and their families benefit from hospice services, and children are no different. While McMaster Children’s Hospital has serviced the Hamilton area for many years, the city does not have dedicated palliative care facilities for kids.
Paul Paletta is looking to change that.
The business leader and regional philanthropist announced this week that he has committed $5 million to the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice to build a new facility dedicated to palliative care for children in Southwestern Ontario.
Paletta, the president and CEO of Alinea Group Holding Inc. and the Paul Paletta Foundation, will bestow this gift to a capital campaign now underway to raise $25 million.
Paul Paletta Gifts $5M to Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice, Children’s Hospice Project (CNW Group/Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice Foundation Inc.)
The children’s hospice will be located in Hamilton but serve families from a large area that mirrors the McMaster Children’s Hospital catchment. It will offer end-of-life care, as well as respite, pain, and symptom management, and bereavement support.
“When I found out that Greater Hamilton was unique, in that we have one of the world’s best children’s hospitals yet no children’s hospice to match the kind of care children need when facing serious illness, I knew I had to help fix this,” said Paletta. “Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto families benefit from this essential support — the Hamilton area should be no different.”
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The Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice, located on Stone Church Rd, has been in operation for 30 years, offering residential care for those facing end-of-life. It also offers day programs and grief and bereavement support.