Innisfil farmer makes $1-million donation to RVH, planting seeds for the future of healthcare
On Tuesday, March 15, 2023, at Horodynsky Farms in Innisfil, Boris Horodynsky made a $1-million commitment to RVH Foundation’s Keep Life Wild campaign, planting the seeds for the future healthcare facility in Innisfil.
Horodynsky hopes to inspire the Innisfil community and garner the support of his neighbours and friends to join the fight to Keep Life Wild. “Without our health, we have nothing,” remarked Horodynsky. “Farming in Innisfil for over 40 years, I have embraced an entrepreneurial spirit and drive to evolve and strengthen my onion farming operation through innovation, technology, and the use of state-of-the-art equipment. In that same vein, it was RVH’s bold and forward-thinking plan to build a healthcare facility in Innisfil that inspired me to support the Keep Life Wild campaign.”
RVH Foundation launched the Keep Life Wild campaign with an ambitious goal to grant Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) $100 million to build a healthcare system for Simcoe Muskoka.
“Our community understands the need for an RVH facility in Innisfil. It’s why so many people like Boris are stepping up to make it a reality. His incredible donation will go a long way to reach the fundraising goal,” says John Brassard. M.P. Barrie Innisfil.
Building a second site in Innisfil to better serve the residents of South Simcoe and alleviate strain on the existing facility in Barrie is part of RVH’s expansion plan. The Keep Life Wild campaign will support the expansion to reduce wait times, eliminate hallway medicine and bring more world-class, specialized care close to home.
“We are so grateful to Boris for his early support of this project,” says Gail Hunt, RVH president and CEO. “When we talk of expansion, it’s not just about getting bigger; we are going far beyond what a hospital is today by completely rethinking what a hospital can be. Donor support is vital to move the project forward to the next phases of planning.”
Innisfil is the largest community in the region without a hospital. The RVH expansion project will finally see a 200,000-square-foot healthcare facility built at Innisfil Beach Road and Yonge Street.
“Our community is forever indebted to local philanthropist Boris Horodynsky who has given more than $1 million to healthcare initiatives in our area,” says Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil. “Today’s gift announcement to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre from Boris will once more have an incredibly positive impact on healthcare in the region, benefiting Innisfil residents for many generations to come. We are very fortunate to have this level of generosity in our community, and I am so honoured to be at the announcement. Boris is always so thoughtful and has so much heart for his community.”
Paul Larche, Chair of RVH Foundation’s Board of Directors, expressed deep gratitude for Boris Horodynsky’s generosity.
“This remarkable gift from Boris and Horodynsky Farms is exemplary of the philanthropic leadership and support needed from our community. We can’t thank Boris enough for bringing us one step closer to making our future vision a reality and ensuring that everyone in Simcoe Muskoka will have access to more specialized, life-saving care when they need it, right here at home,” says Larche.