Golden Jubilee Golf Tournament Secures $200,000 for Inaugural Dr. Francis Glorieux Research Fellowship

TORONTO, ON, SEPTEMBER 9, 2024/insPRESS/ – In celebration and recognition of her remarkable 50-year anniversary in the insurance industry, Jacinta Whyte, Deputy Group Chief Executive, Benefact Group and General Manager & Chief Agent for Ecclesiastical Canada, chose to recognize, support and help others to realize their own milestones and dreams through her inaugural Golden Jubilee Charity Golf Tournament. Hosted by the Canadian Osteogenesis Imperfecta Society (COIS), of which Whyte is President and Chair, the event was held at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario on June 4^th with the aim of raising funds for the Dr Francis Glorieux Fellowship for Medical Research, an integral part of COIS’s mandate.

With the help, support and outstanding generosity of the over 120 attendees from the insurance industry the tournament was a resounding success and having met the fundraising goal, Whyte expressed her heartfelt thanks to all – “I was profoundly touched and honoured by the support and generosity of colleagues, business partners, and customers—golfers and non-golfers alike. This was truly a celebration like no other and raised the $200,000 needed to fully fund this first Dr. Francis Glorieux Fellowship!”

The funds raised will support the first-ever research fellowship, named in honor of Dr. Glorieux’s pioneering work in the field of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). Dr. Glorieux’s research and treatment for OI have set a global standard, providing life-changing advancements that allow individuals with OI to live stronger and more fulfilling lives.

“As a parent of a daughter born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), I wanted to mark this milestone with a meaningful initiative,” said Whyte. “The support and generosity shown by colleagues, business partners, and customers was overwhelming. This was not only a celebration of my career, but a collective effort to support groundbreaking research for the OI community.”

Applications for the Dr. Francis Glorieux Research Fellowship will open on September 1st and close on October 30th. This Fellowship aims to inspire a new generation of researchers to continue Dr. Glorieux’s legacy and make significant contributions to the wellbeing of individuals with OI.

Kristin Hayes, COIS Board member and Ambassador & Lifestyle and Donor Services Director, shared her excitement about the Fellowship’s impact. “This Fellowship will remain the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts within the COIS Education Fund. We are especially focused on supporting Canadian researchers to honor Dr. Glorieux’s work and his team at the Shriners Hospital in Montreal.”

The Fellowship will be administered and managed by the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF) on behalf of COIS, with special consideration given to Canadian applicants and those working in Canadian institutions.

To learn more and apply for the grant, please visit https://oif.org/researchgrants2024/

For more information about COIS, please visit https://www.cois-scoi.ca/

______________________________________________________________________

Contact: Colin Robertson Chief Risk Management & Customer Officer Ecclesiastical Insurance Phone: 1 416 484 3984 Email: crobertson@ecclesiastical.ca