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CDF History
Members are our strength
The strength of the CDF today owes a great deal to the loyal support of our Members, Life Members, and Benefactor Life Members, many of whom have described it as their way “to give back to dermatology”. It is a powerful expression of altruism, and we have adopted it as the theme of this year’s campaign.
In recognition of their generous contribution to the Foundation, the first Benefactor Life Members’ CDF Research Grant was awarded in 2007.
History - Founding of the Canadian Dermatology Foundation by R. Roy Forsey
In the 1960’s, the Syntex Corporation of America, then the major corticosteroid manufacturer, presented a cheque to the Canadian Dermatology Association for $10,000 (no mean sum in those days) for research. The late Gibson E. Craig, secretary-treasurer at that time, knew that the CDA had no mechanism to deal with this bequest so he turned the problem over to the late William (Bill) Garbe of Toronto, the president-elect. In the late spring of 1969, I received a call from Bill telling (ordering) me to be at the Airport Hotel at Dorval for a meeting. I believe there were ten or twelve of us present: Bill Garbe, Stuart Maddin, Emerson Trow Jr., John Mitchell, Jean Grandbois, Robert Jackson, Arthur Birt, Georges Leclerc, plus I think four laymen and the Medical Director of Syntex, who represented the donor. At this meeting, the idea of forming a foundation was discussed and in the end, the officers were named with Bill Garbe as the first President and Roy Forsey, Vice-President. On return to Toronto, Bill lost no time in recruiting a number of his legal friends to volunteer the time and they soon had the Foundation incorporated and the fundraising began.
CDF Established in 1969
The Canadian Dermatology Foundation was established in 1969 by thirteen dermatologists. Dr William Garbe was appointed President, and Dr. R. Roy Forsey Vice-President. The first research grant awarded was a modest $368.00. Now, the value of annual grants from the Capital Fund is in the area of $450,000, and to-date, the Foundation has awarded over $5,000,000 in support of advancing dermatological research. Soon after the CDF was established, it amalgamated with the British Columbia Dermatology Foundation followed in 1979 by the Dr George S. Williamson Fund for Research in Dermatology.
Bequests and Endowments
Thanks to a number of personal bequests, endowments and the annual fund-raising campaign, the Capital Fund contributes significantly to the annual CDF Research Grants. In 1990, a grateful patient bequeathed her estate worth $470,000 to the Williamson Fund, which became the basis for the Winefride M.P. Raye Memorial Grant. The first Edwin Brown – CDA Endowment research grant was awarded in 2004, based on a $320,000 legacy received by Canadian Dermatology Association from the estate of Edwin Allan Brown.
The first research grant from the CDF Colin Ramsay Endowment Fund was awarded in 2006. This fund was established thanks to endowments of $175,000 From Astellas Pharma Canada and $350,000 from BiogenIdec Canada. Dr Colin Ramsay(1936 – 2003) played a major role in the CDF and in the growth of the Capital Fund, as a Director from 1984 – 1993 and President from 1993 to 1998.
Origin of the Dr. Frederik Kalz Fund
A gift by Dr Zoltan Fekete in 1991 established the Dr Frederick Kalz Fund, the purpose of which is to grant bursaries to Dermatology Residents to further their expertise in outside centres and to contribute this knowledge to their community.
Dr. Frederick Kalz came to Montreal from Prague in 1939. A well-trained dermatologist who had had numerous articles published, he was appointed to the Royal Victoria Hospital and McGill University. He was interested in research and tried to instill this interest in the students and residents. In 1963, he left the Royal Victoria to head the dermatology service at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, which became a mecca for paediatric dermatology in Montreal. The late Dr. Zoltan Fekete was a Resident at the Royal Victoria and later practiced for many years in Oshawa, Ontario. He was greatly influenced by Dr. Kalz and while he was not a researcher, he never forgot Fred Kalz and in 1991 made a generous gift to the Canadian Dermatology Foundation to establish the Frederick Kalz Fund. The purpose of this fund was to grant bursaries and fellowships for dermatologists to further their expertise in other centers and to bring back their expertise to their community. Residents are urged to apply to the CDF to make the dream become a reality.
The Corporate Benefactor Program invites sponsored grants from pharmaceutical industry partners. Research grant recipients are selected by the CDF Medical Advisory Committee through a peer-review. Industry sponsors are invited to the meet the successful grant recipients at the annual awards reception.
In 2007, the CDF Board approved two new categories of participation for individuals: Benefactor Life Patron ($10,000) and Life Patron ($2,000). This step was taken to accommodate a number of industry partners who had expressed a strong desire for a way to demonstrate their personal support of the Foundation and its goals.
Each year, the CDF hosts an Awards Reception for research grant recipients. CDF Members at all levels and major Corporate Sponsors are cordially invited to attend.
For information on bequests and commemorative donations please write to The Canadian Dermatology Foundation, 211 Lady MacDonald Drive, Canmore, AB T1W 1H2 Fax (403) 609 6670
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