The mission of the Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre Foundation is to enhance the quality of life of the Centre’s residents. Through fundraising initiatives, improvements in the Centre’s services and facilities, and the advancement of scientific research in geriatric care, the Foundation significantly contributes to our community’s health and well-being.
Our vision is to ensure that every resident benefits from innovative geriatric care and lives a life of dignity and well-being at the Centre. Our role is to build links with the community, promote the development of the Centre’s services and facilities, share expertise, support innovative programming, and maintain the Centre’s status as one which sets new standards in geriatric care.
History – over a 100 years of caring
The Maimonides Foundation was formed in 1973 by a highly dedicated group of community leaders who were determined to ensure high standards of care and the finest facilities at the Centre.
Their original objective was to supplement limited government funding with donations from private individuals, corporations, foundations, and other sources, allowing Maimonides to provide a rich diversity of programs and services. As years passed, this objective extended to the replacement and improvement of the Centre’s facilities.
Ben Cobrin Z”L, the Founding President of the Foundation, together with Phil Levenson Z”L, assembled the initial Board of Directors which began to fundraise and encourage members of the community to include Maimonides as a beneficiary in their wills. The first major bequest, in the amount of $165,000 arrived from the estate of Max and Jenny Borkowitz in 1976, stipulating that a garden be created on the grounds of the Centre. A magnificent garden was inaugurated the same year, featuring the gazebo which would become a landmark in the area.
In 2011, as recognition for the transformative gift provided by the Donald Berman Foundation, the Maimonides Foundation became known as the Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre Foundation.
In 2014, the Donald Berman Maimonides and Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare Foundations formed a partnership with the same leadership and the same staff. However, the two remain completely separate Foundations standing free and tall in our community.
About Donald Berman
Donald Berman came from humble beginnings. He grew his enterprise from a single souvenir stand at Expo ’67 to a successful conglomerate that included amusement rides, plush toy manufacturing, and an import/export business.
Donald’s greatest reward was seeing huge smiles on children’s faces. Every summer, he would lease buses to offer 2,000 children in need a day of rides at LaRonde, ice cream, soda, and gifts – something that most had never experienced in their lives.
Generous to those struggling and those who were less fortunate, Donald Berman supported many worthy causes during his lifetime. The gift that his Foundation provided has offered much more than care to the residents. It has brought us closer to our vision to ensure innovative geriatric care and a life of dignity for every person who calls the Centre home.