PAOLO ARDIZZI FUND (SINCE 1983) - WHO WE ARE In 1983, following Paolo's death from leukemia at the young age of 20, The Paolo Ardizzi Leukemia Research Fund was established by his family with the purpose of rasing funds in support of the Ontario Cancer Institute/Princess Margaret Hospital (OCI/PMH). In 1989 after years of minimal activity the family and friends of Paolo planned "just a little something to remember the sincere and charitable character of Paolo," as described by Paul Pellegrini on of Paolo's neighbors and closest friends. But by 1991 the planned " little something" took on a whole new meaning. After three successful annual parties the newly formed Paolo Ardizzi Fund fulfilled a promise made in 1983; "As a monument to Paolo, we as his friends, must produce a consistent effort to help all those trying to defeat this dreadful disease." A pledge of $150,000 was made to support the work of the bone marrow transplant program at Princess Margaret Hospital. This program was responsible for giving Paolo "the gift of life" as a result of a transplant with his brother Nino's bone marrow. A committee of dedicated individuals came together, committed to organizing , promoting and executing a variety of special events which would raise the funds needed to complete their pledge. Golf tournaments, fashion shows, Bowlerama's and annual dances with attendances as high as 2,000 people, were some of the functions that have been held to raise funds as well as awareness of the work of Princess Margaret Hospital. In 1993, the Friends of Paolo Ardizzi met it's fundraising objective by fulfilling it's original pledge of $150,000 to the Princess Margaret Hospital Capital Campaign. But rather than stop there, the committee members increased their pledge to $250,000. In recognition of this outstanding commitment, the bone Marrow Transplant Unit of the new OCI/PMH on University Avenue has been dedicated to the memory of Paolo Ardizzi. "Paolo was so moved and touched by the care and commitment of the hospital to curing his leukemia that were he alive today he would be giving something of himself back in return. We are confident that as Paolo looks down upon us, he is proud of the work we are doing in his honor. More importantly to Paolo however, is that our efforts are giving others with cancer hope of a cure and the gift of life as Paolo himself was blessed with." PAOLO ARDIZZI FUND Tel : (416) 258-7601 In conjunctino with Princess Margaret - The Cancer Hospital