Ottawa Hospital leadership, dignitaries, and honoured guests joined donors for the presentation of this special gift in support of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow. Left to right: Master of Ceremonies, Ametha Anandavimalan, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital, Cameron Love, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, MP Yasir Naqvi, High Commissioner of India to Canada, Mr. Dinesh Patnaik, Canadian Minister of Public Safety and MP, Gary Anandasangaree, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, Tim Kluke, Dr. Steve Gupta, Mr. Anand Aggarwal, Mr. Kris Singal (seated), Mr. Pawan Gupta, Mr. Vijay Tejuja, Mr. Prem Bhatia, Dr. Bas Baskaran, Mr. B.G. Arun.
The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Spiritual Centre of Ottawa-Carleton, also known as the Ottawa Sai Centre, is a non-denominational spiritual centre, based on the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba of India.
In celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Ottawa Sai Centre is committing $1 million to the hospital’s Campaign to Create Tomorrow in support of advanced patient care, medical research, and innovation at The Ottawa Hospital.
At a special event held on Nov 20th, community leaders, philanthropists, and partners dedicated to strengthening healthcare in Ottawa gathered to celebrate this transformational gift.
“This gift is a powerful reminder of what it means to care with compassion and generosity,” says Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. “We are grateful for this donation and for the spirit of service that inspired it.”
Mr. Anand Aggarwal, President of the Spiritual Centre’s board, shares how this fundraising initiative was inspired by their spiritual leader’s message of “Love all, serve all.”
“Many of us have been moved to give back to our communities,” says Anand. “Dr Steve Gupta of Toronto, a well-known Philanthropist and famous hotelier, emphasized the importance of giving in the Hindu way of life. And Dinesh Patnaik, India High Commissioner, has noted that immigrants from India excel in contributing to the local charities.”
For those who contributed to this $1-million commitment to The Ottawa Hospital’s campaign, there is an understanding that healthcare is critical to any thriving community. In fact, spiritual leader Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often emphasized that state-of-the-art healthcare should be accessible to all, and his vision of compassionate, free, and high-quality care continues to inspire service projects around the world and inspire individuals.
“The values of service and compassion inspired this gift,” says Anand. “As well as our desire to help improve the overall well-being of the community — that’s very important to us at the Centre and to the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.”
