November 13, 2020

DiCenzo Family Makes $100,000 Donation to St. Joe’s

Anthony DiCenzo ,centre, and his sisters Rita , left and Silvana right in one of the x-ray rooms at St Josephs Hospital. Photo credit: Cathie Coward/ The Hamilton Spectator.

“St. Joe’s has always been there for our family when we needed them the most. So, during this unprecedented time when the Hospital is working hard to protect and care for our community amidst the second wave of an unpredictable virus, we felt it was our turn to be there for St. Joe’s,” said Mr. Anthony DiCenzo, when reflecting on a $100,000 gift he and his sisters, Rita and Silvana, recently made to St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation.

The donation will support the Hospital’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and is designated to fund the purchase of personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns and face shields to keep our courageous healthcare providers safe, as well as other needed equipment ranging from HEPA filters to acrylic or plexi-glass shields and a UV light for disinfection purposes.

Melissa Farrell, President, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, says this gift is addressing some of the most vital and ongoing needs at the Hospital.

“Until a vaccine is developed and fully tested, we’re looking at a future that sees our staff wear masks, and in some cases gowns and face-shields, in clinical settings for months, if not years to come. It’s an expense we hadn’t planned for pre-pandemic, so finding the funds within our current budget has been a challenge. We’re so grateful to the DiCenzo family for making this donation designed to address our most essential equipment and supply needs,” says Ms. Farrell.

The DiCenzo family is a long-time supporter of St. Joe’s. In 2014, they made a $1 million donation to the Hospital which was recognized through the naming of the Antonio and Maria DiCenzo Diagnostic Imaging Centre. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the DiCenzo family was among the first to reach out to St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation to offer their support.

“When families are cared for by our Hospital, it’s something they tend to remember. The DiCenzo family has shared a long history with St. Joe’s and we’re so grateful for the many ways they’re helping the Hospital, including donating to essential programs and funding supplies that enable our care teams to focus on what they do best, care for our community,” says Sera Filice-Armenio, President and CEO, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation.