This article was originally published in the January 2024 edition of Héma-Québec’s Magazine. All issues of the Magazine are available here.

25 years driving Héma-Québec to innovate

The Héma-Québec Foundation, which raises funds to support Héma-Québec’s innovative work, is turning 25 in 2025

There are so many ways to support Héma-Québec’s noble mission to share life to save lives. You can donate biological products, like blood and plasma, and you can also give your time as a volunteer. Some people also take the initiative to start a committee and plan a blood drive to encourage their community to donate.

But did you know you can also donate money? That is why the Héma-Québec Foundation was created back in 1999, 25 years ago!

Donors’ invaluable financial support strengthens and grows the lifeline that makes Héma Québec’s work possible day in and day out, by supporting special projects in transfusion medicine and biological products of human origin.

Three landmark achievements

Looking back on the Foundation’s history, CEO Lise Plante sees three flagship projects that have left the organization’s mark on Québec since 1999.

“The first thing that comes to mind is, hands down, our financial support for the Association of Blood Donation Volunteers, ABDV for short, which also turned 25 in 2024! With the hundreds of information booths they work every year, ABDV volunteers play such an important role in raising public awareness about the different ways people can donate, and also rallying more donors and volunteers behind the cause.” 

The second highlight for Lise is how the Foundation funded the feasibility study for the Public Mothers’ Milk Bank, and then the creation of the Bank itself in 2014. The Bank helps very premature babies (born at or before 32 weeks of pregnancy) who cannot be breastfed have access to the best nutrition there is!

“Every year, about a thousand premature babies in Québec need milk from our Bank. Mother’s milk reduces the risk of intestinal conditions that can be fatal to babies by three or four times. That fact really drives home the importance of the Bank.”    
The third project is the population study of First Nations communities in Québec to better understand their genetic profiles and to encourage them to join the Stem Cell Donor Registry.

“First Nations in Québec are known for their own culture and history, of course,” says Lise Plante. “But their genetic profile is also truly one of a kind. And these communities are unfortunately underrepresented not only in our Stem Cell Donor Registry but in every other registry in the world. This project was a concrete step in addressing this issue.”

An ambitious future

The Héma-Québec Foundation wants to be even more present in the lives of Quebecers in the next few years, with major events to raise funds for the great lifeline that connects donors and recipients. Lise Plante has also recently secured the support of a heavyweight. Last September, the Foundation announced its new ambassador: actor and author Marie Chantal Perron will now be putting her big heart and lovable personality behind the Foundation’s mission. 

“The Foundation couldn’t ask for a better ambassador,” says Lise Plante. “Marie Chantal’s charisma, kindness and selflessness make her the perfect face and voice for everything our organization does.” 

The anniversary festivities started with a bang earlier this fall, with a cocktail party at the private lounge of the event’s major partner, RBC Wealth Management. 150 people raised their glasses to the Foundation’s 25-year history and to the projects that will support the Héma-Québec Foundation in the years to come!