You could hear a pin drop. Former Douglas Institute patient Marie-Josée D’Amours, gave a moving testimonial at the Douglas Institute Foundation’s 11th Annual Benefit, held March 26th at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure. But she also left the guests gaping at her generous gift: half of her winnings from the game show “Le Banquier” on TVA.

Two standing ovations later, guests were still taking in Ms. D’Amours’ message of hope and cure for mental illness. The Foundation was deeply touched by her gratitude to the Douglas Institute, in particular to the Eating Disorders Program, the beneficiary of her gift of $14,500.

Before 300 guests representing Montreal’s business elite, Ms. D’Amours recounted what she went through during the years she battled with anorexia and bulimia. She is grateful to the Douglas for the outstanding care she received from the Eating Disorder’s Clinic. She is now eager to give back to the community and to encourage others who need help to go forward and get it.

The Honorary co-presidents of the event, Jacynthe Côté, President and CEO, Primary Metal Rio Tinto Alcan and Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, launched the benefit evening by stating that society and the business community have ignored mental illness for too long and must be more open minded about mental health issues. As business leaders, wives and mothers, both Co-Presidents conveyed the necessity to bring mental illness out of the closet. Together, they stated, it is possible to deal with mental illness with open minds!

A tribute was paid to the 25 researchers who are supported by the Douglas Institute Foundation through research grants. The Douglas Institute Research Centre is the second largest neuroscience and mental health research centre in Canada and is renowned world-wide for its top tier talent and innovation.

Again this year, the Pfizer Heinz Lehmann Award was presented to a Douglas researcher who has followed in the footsteps of predecessor, Dr. Heinz Lehmann, by achieving key advances in mental health care and research. This year’s recipient, Ridha Joober, MD, PhD, is the director of the Douglas Schizophrenia and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research area. The Douglas Institute Foundation is grateful to Pfizer Canada who, for the past six years, has provided funding for this award.

The Foundation deeply appreciates the support of its sponsors, guests, and donors, and the participation of volunteers. As a result of this support, more than $230,000 was raised at the event to benefit patient care and research at the Douglas Institute. The Foundation extends a warm thank you to all involved.

PLATINUM Sponsors: Bell Canada; Hydro-Québec; Rio Tinto Alcan; SAQ; Standard Life

GOLD Sponsors: Accenture; Banque Nationale; BMO Bank of Montréal; Fasken Martineau; SNC-Lavalin; Heenan Blaikie; Hewlett Packard Canada; IBM Canada; McLean Budden Limitée; RBC Marché des Capitaux; Transat A.T. Inc.

SILVER Sponsors: Aéroports de Montréal; Banque CIBC; Banque de développement du Canada; Borden Ladner Gervais; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Cabinet de relations publiques National; Deloitte; SNC-Lavalin; Ogilvy Renault S.E.N.C.R.L,s.r.l.; RBC Dominion Securities

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