This week, Neville Kirchmann completes his term as Chairman of the Board of the PMHF. Neville has made a huge impact on cancer research, clincial care and education at Princess Margaret. He has helped raise funds, profile, awareness, and support to ensure PMH is one of the top 5 cancer centres in the world. Neville is a great CEO, has enormous passion for the cause “To Conquer cancer in Our Lifetime”, and has been a superstar as a volunteer. Personally, I have seldom met an individual with the breadth and depth of personal gifts and talents that Neville possesses. Neville has helped and supported me and given superb guidance to our organization. Much of the success PMHF enjoys today has been built on the leadership of Neville. He chairs his final PMHF board meeting on October 2nd. We have another outstanding individual, Keith Ambachtsheer stepping in a our board chair at that meeting. We will all, however, miss Neville!
Neville is a passionate advocate and leader. Neville has had an enormous impact on PMH. Starting as a volunteer after his own family experience with cancer, he stepped on to the Board of PMHF as a director. He was a very strong Board member and volunteer. He then stepped up to be CEO of the PMH Foundation at a time of urgent need, from 1999 to 2003.
Neville led many innovations at PMHF and helped improve governance and accountability through the development, research and publication of Reaching for Excellence 2001. This publication helped PMHF become the "gold standard" for board governance in the not-for-profit sector.
His successful approach to fundraising includes leading by example – Neville is a major donor himself – and creating structure that uses people and resources to the best advantage. He is a visionary and strategic fundraiser whose commitment to the cause is unparalleled. One example involves the location of The Foundation offices. Initially housed in a spacious area on the 16th floor of the Princess Margaret Hospital with a beautiful view, when the opportunity came to fundraise for a palliative care unit to be located in that same space, Neville agreed without hesitation and moved The Foundation to much less scenic space in the Hydro Building next door. He knew that if anyone needed the comfort of bright, sunlight space, it was the palliative care patients and their families.
Neville’s involvement did not stop after he stepped down as President & CEO. He returned to his position on the board and worked tirelessly on the Audit & Accountability committee, Governance Committee, Investment committee, HR&Compensation committee, Lottery committee and Development committee.
Of more than 200 organizations raising money for cancer research and care in Canada, PMH is second after The Canadian Cancer Society. We have achieved such success because of Neville’s involvement as volunteer, Board member, President and CEO, Chair and Co-Chair.