Author: Hewitt Foundation

Using innovative approaches to stimulate research into critical care

Intensive care patients who suffer from a wide range of illnesses receive treatments to support their vital functions, which are administered to everyone in a blanket way. Even though these treatments require significant resources and are associated with major health risks, little to no research has gone into them. Recent research advances have led to better studies that could very soon help doctors personalize this type of care and better adapt it to the needs of each patient so that it is more effective.

To achieve this goal, a clinical trial platform to continuously evaluate supportive modalities in critical care is about to be launched by Dr. François Lamontagne, Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care, thanks to a generous $1-million contribution from the Hewitt Foundation.

“The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Université de Sherbrooke strives to play a central role in deploying rigorous research methodologies that redefine care, and the support of our philanthropic partners lets us scale up our action to fulfill this mission.”
– Dr. Dominique Dorion, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Starting point: Vasopressors

The newly created Critical Care Comparative Effectiveness Platform will eventually lead to multiple treatments that will be continuously studied at the same time. First, Dr. François Lamontagne’s team will focus on the impacts of vasopressors.

A number of pathologies have the effect of lowering blood pressure. Patients with this condition will receive vasopressors, which are drugs that raise blood pressure by increasing heart rate and contraction and constricting the blood vessels. However, these treatments also come with risks. The goal of the platform is to give doctors a better understanding of the effects of these medications so that they can personalize their administration. 

An essential partnership that promises effective results

Hewitt Foundation’s contribution marks the launch of this new project, which is a collaboration between the team of the Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care and a number of international research partners, notably in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

“Vasopressors have been used in medicine for almost a century. Although this therapy is a core tool in the critical care toolbox, their overall effect is not always certain. A health system must constantly improve the relevance and usefulness of the care it delivers. The commitment of partners plays a major role in developing and deploying these avenues of research. I am very grateful to the Hewitt Foundation for supporting our project from the very start, and I thank them deeply for this contribution!”
 –  Dr. François Lamontagne, Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care.

“The Hewitt Foundation wants to significantly improve the lives of Canadians and increase its impact by supporting innovation. In line with this mission, we are proud to contribute to Dr. François Lamontagne’s innovative critical care research project, whose ultimate goal is to save lives.”
– Kim Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Hewitt Foundation

Advances thanks to the Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care

Since 2015, the Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care has stood out on the international stage thanks to its major research, and Dr. François Lamontagne’s new project will build on these advances.

About the Hewitt Foundation

The Hewitt Foundation is a private Canadian foundation established in 2017 at the time of the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited and Atlantic Tractors & Equipment. Hewitt Equipment was founded in 1952 by the late Robert Hewitt. Jim Hewitt, and the Hewitt family, had a desire to continue their legacy of giving back to the communities around them. This led them to establish one of Canada’s largest private charitable foundations. The Foundation’s focus is on Eastern Canada, the former companies’ area of operations – Québec and the Maritimes – with an objective of supporting those communities which contributed to Hewitt Equipment’s success for over 65 years.   

The Hewitt Foundation’s purpose is to help bring about meaningful and sustainable social, economic and cultural change by granting, investing and collaborating with other organizations and partners and with the public.

About the Université de Sherbrooke Major Campaign

Since its founding, the Université de Sherbrooke has always innovated, pushed boundaries and practices, and made forward-looking decisions. These orientations have forged its identity and are a source of pride for the university’s entire community. While drawing from this history, the institution is embarking on the next chapter of its development with its Major Fundraising Campaign, Choosing to Change the Future. The most ambitious in UdeS history, this $250-million campaign will support over 150 inspiring projects that provide concrete solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

Multi-year gift will positively impact youth across the maritime provinces through affordable and inclusive access to golf

FEBRUARY 29, 2024 – Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are proud to announce that the Hewitt Foundation has pledged a major gift of $1.35M CAD that directly benefits First Tee – Atlantic.

The Hewitt Foundation is a private Canadian foundation that was established in 2017 at the time of the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited and Atlantic Tractors and Equipment. Hewitt Equipment was founded in 1952 by the late Robert Hewitt. Jim Hewitt and the Hewitt family created the Foundation to help bring meaningful and sustainable social, economic, and cultural change by granting, investing, and collaborating with other organizations, partners, and the public.

“We are proud to support organizations that are bettering the lives of Canadians through healthy, active living and education. We understand the values that the game of golf can provide and are aligned with First Tee’s mission to provide environments that foster inner confidence, perseverance, and honesty through sport,” said Hewitt Foundation CEO, Kim Anderson. “The Maritimes are especially important to us, so it is special to continue that legacy and support the communities that helped make the Hewitt family business successful.”

Golf Canada partnered with First Tee in 2020 to launch First Tee – Canada and provide youth with affordable and inclusive access to golf along with life-enhancing experiences through the game. First Tee – Atlantic launched in 2022 and as of 2024, six chapters are operating First Tee – Canada programming in every province.

First Tee is delivered in three settings, golf courses, schools, and community centres with unique curriculums and training for each. Last year, First Tee – Atlantic delivered programming to nearly 11,500 participants at 54 program locations across all four provinces, with a team of three staff and 20 certified First Tee coaches. Nearly 40 percent of participants identified as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour), and 52 percent identified as female. Through the support of donors like the Hewitt Foundation, 72 percent of programming was provided at no cost to participants.

“The generosity of the Hewitt Foundation has helped accelerate the growth and impact made in communities across the Atlantic,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer, Kevin Blue. “This financial support allows us to onboard program locations, train coaches, provide program equipment kits, and most importantly, provide affordable and accessible introductory golf programming to children. The work we do would not be possible without the support of donors like the Hewitt Foundation.”

Through its deep network of donors, Golf Canada Foundation is a critical partner in supporting the advancement of First Tee – Canada chapters across the country through its fundraising and philanthropic efforts.

“The Hewitt Foundation, alongside many other generous donors, is the reason we have positively impacted over 85,000 youth across Canada,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO, Martin Barnard. “We are committed to the same mission – providing empowering opportunities to children through sport and ensuring golf participation more closely reflects the strengths of Canada’s diversity. Together, we are building game changers.”

The generosity of the Hewitt Foundation adds to a growing number of significant donations that have been secured since First Tee – Canada’s inception in 2020.

To learn more about First Tee – Atlantic, or to donate, visit www.firstteeatlantic.ca/.

The Hewitt Foundation makes significant contribution to First Tee – Atlantic – Golf Canada

Rouyn-Noranda, November 29, 2023 – The Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue Foundation (UQATF) is grateful to be able to count on the support of the Hewitt Foundation.  The latter has awarded the Foundation a $2M grant towards three projects of its major campaign ‘Building the Future Today’

This significant grant will be dedicated to the construction of the new Forest Research Institute Pavilion, the construction of the new Research Institute on Mines and the Environment Pavilion and, finally, it will support the Participatory Research Laboratory on the Social Acceptability of Responsible Natural Resources Development which was officially launched in the Fall of 2022. For UQAT, these are fundamental projects that will help ensure the full potential of its development, and in a context of unparalleled growth.

Following the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited in 2017, the Hewitt family created the Foundation. Deeply rooted in Abitibi-Témiscamingue for many decades, notably in the Mining and Forestry industries, this significant contribution allows it to give back to the region in sectors perfectly aligned with their history, all the while supporting education, one of its’ strategic giving pillars.

“We are very proud to invest in the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue in view of our long-standing relationship with the latter.  Abitibi-Témiscamingue has played, and continues to play, an important role in the Canadian economic development, and we are extremely proud to have been a part of it both as an employer for over 65 years, and now though Education”, said Jim Hewitt, Chairman of the Board.

“This philanthropic gesture reflects Hewitt Foundation’s willingness to give back to the regional communities.  With this significant contribution, Hewitt Foundation becomes, not only an important driver for collective change, but also a powerful philanthropic lever.  Hewitt Foundation invests in education which is one of the reasons it agreed to make a $2M to the campaign and we are very grateful,” stipulates Karine Gareau, Executive Director of FUQAT.

Projects powered by UQAT Foundation’s major campaign Building the Future Today

The construction projects of the new Forest Research Institute Pavilion and the Research Institute on Mines and the Environment Pavilion, as well as the Participatory Research Laboratory on the Social Acceptability on Responsible Natural Resources Development are powered by UQAT Foundation’s largest fundraising campaign. With its’ theme Building the Future Today, the campaign aims to raise $25M over 5 years and support 16 main projects for UQAT. Adding up to over $160M, these projects are spread over all the University’s territories: Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Nord-du-Québec, Upper Laurentians, as well as Montréal.