A family connection
Feeling like a member of the St. Joseph’s family, Lynne Cram is proud to support mental health care and research for an organization she calls world class
St. Joseph’s has been a constant fixture in Lynne Cram’s life.
Her earliest recollection of the hospital was a visit with her father to meet her new baby brother – just hours after he was born. Years later she would have her own three children at the hospital.
In time, she started becoming more involved with the Hospital, including attending the very first Breakfast of Champions event in 2007, featuring Margaret Trudeau as the keynote speaker.
Cram says that at that point in her life, giving her time whether by attending fundraising events or serving on boards and committees was her way of contributing to the community.
Now, the Breakfast of Champions event is a tradition for Cram, who attends every year with friends.
“Every family seems to be touched by mental health and illness,” says Cram, explaining her continued interest. “I really admire St. Joseph’s for bringing mental health to the forefront when they did – it was underrepresented at the time and really needed to be supported."
With each event ticket purchase, Cram’s involvement with St. Joseph’s grew. Soon she was attending DocTalks lectures and meeting with clinical and research leaders including Dr. Arlene MacDougall, to learn more about the care and research programs.
Inspired by the work at St. Joseph’s, Cram began to make annual donations to programs including the Mental Health INcubator for Disruptive Solutions (MINDS) research and St. Joseph’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams providing community-based mental health services.
“I’m so impressed with the research at St. Joseph’s and how ahead of the game they are,” she says. “As I have gotten more involved and been able to give more, I’ve increased my support.”
Each gift that Cram has made had double the impact, thanks to a matching donation from the Smith Family Foundation. The Foundation was established through her father’s estate.
Cram credits her parents, Don and Joan Smith, for setting such a strong example of supporting the community. Her mother was a tireless advocate for women, children and mental health and was the founder of Madame Vanier Children’s Centre – now known as Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness. Cram says that her mother developed the plan for the Centre when she was recuperating in hospital after having her seventh child.
Meanwhile her father’s passion was the local Boys and Girls Club. Don also served as the Chair of St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation's Board of Directors from 1983-85. He is remembered as generous, compassionate and incredibly philanthropic.
Today, many organizations across London bear her parents' names, because of their generosity and commitment to improving lives.
“It was just in my parents' DNA to look after people,” Cram says proudly.
Together with her siblings and their offspring, she is committed to carrying on the strong legacy established by her parents. With family spread across the country that impact is touching the lives of millions of people.
"I’m so impressed with the research at St. Joseph’s and how ahead of the game they are.” - Lynne Cram
For Cram, that focus remains St. Joseph’s – a place she continues to feel a close connection to.
“We’re very fortunate to have an organization like St. Joseph’s in our community – it’s a world-class organization.”