SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco General Hospital Foundation (the Foundation) has received $2 million from BMO to support Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center’s (ZSFG) capital needs, equity and innovation grants, and Hearts in SF – an annual public art display and event that supports the Foundation’s efforts. ZSFG is the city’s essential safety-net hospital and only Level-1 trauma center. Over the next four years, BMO’s donation will support the Foundation’s dedication to delivering excellence in patient care and innovation, as well as its mission to achieve equitable, accessible, and quality health care for all.
“BMO’s commitment to giving is guided by our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, for our customers, colleagues and communities we serve,” said Darrel Hackett, President & CEO, BMO Bank N.A. “This donation will support equitable healthcare and break down barriers to make progress toward a more inclusive society where everyone is able to receive the care they need.”
Specifically, BMO’s donation will address the following:
- Equity and Innovation Grants (EIG): With BMO’s support for the grantmaking program, the Foundation will emphasize growth and sustainability for emerging initiatives at ZSFG. This investment of critical capital will empower providers to innovate with new program models and begin to lay the groundwork for programs that can meet the ever-evolving landscape of public health. Since 2005, the EIG program has distributed 550 grants totaling over $13.5 million to fund equity and innovation in health care at ZSFG.
- Hearts in SF: Hearts in SF is an annual gathering of supporters, partners, stakeholders, and community members benefitting the Foundation in support of ZSFG. For twenty years, Hearts in SF and the iconic Heart Sculptures have become a cornerstone of San Francisco’s civic pride, adding to the rich artistic culture of this city while bringing visibility to San Francisco’s public health needs and raising critical funds for our city’s only public hospital. BMO’s investment in Hearts in SF is an investment both in the community and the future of health equity and innovation.
- Capital Needs: Funding will also support the hospital’s capital needs and enable physicians and health care workers to match outstanding care with state-of-the-art facilities that are welcoming, respectful, and built to the needs of patients.
“The Foundation is honored to receive this generous gift from BMO in support of future Equity and Innovation Grants,” said Kim Meredith, CEO of the Foundation. “We believe that the relationship built between the public and private sectors is a long-term investment in the Foundation, ZSFG, and, most importantly, our patients. These grants allow ZSFG to remain a leader in providing equitable, innovative, and holistic care to the San Francisco community.”
BMO is committed to eliminating health inequities in the communities it serves. In 2023, BMO’s donation of $250,000 to the Foundation supported initiatives that advance patient care and innovation at ZSFG. In 2021, BMO donated $10 million to the Rush University System for Health to create the Rush BMO Institute for Health Equity to ensure zero barriers to inclusion for communities across Chicago. The institute is focused on removing obstacles to healthcare, such as poverty and discrimination, and increasing life expectancy in underserved neighborhoods. In 2017, BMO donated $21 million to seven Toronto academic hospitals to support medical research and patient care.
To learn more about BMO’s community giving efforts, visit our-impact.bmo.com.
About San Francisco General Hospital Foundation:
San Francisco General Hospital Foundation (the Foundation) is an independent, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that provides philanthropic support to Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. The San Francisco General Hospital Foundation supports and funds excellence in patient care and innovation at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG) because we believe in equity, access, and quality health care for all. Funds raised by the Foundation allow ZSFG to continue its long history of providing compassionate and high-quality health care to San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. For more information, please visit SFGHF.org.
BMO Gives. Good grows here.
Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO’s Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. In 2023, our social impact included more than $84 million donated to hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations across North America to help drive progress by enabling individuals to thrive and communities to prosper. Our colleagues spent 62,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $31.2 million of donations through our annual employee giving program. For more information, please visit BMO.com.
About BMO Financial Group:
BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.4 trillion as of April 30, 2024. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to 13 million customers across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and inclusive society.