BC Cancer Foundation welcomes Alyssa Grace to lead Vancouver Island fundraising initiatives

VICTORIA, B.C. – The BC Cancer Foundation welcomes Alyssa Grace as senior director of development. Grace will lead fundraising activity on Vancouver Island, benefitting BC Cancer – Victoria. Province-wide, the BC Cancer Foundation raised a record $50.4 million in support of research and enhancements to care at the BC Cancer Agency in 2012.

Working with donors and the community, Grace will build upon partnerships allowing Vancouver Island residents to continue enhancing the patient experience and fuelling cancer research activity. Grace brings a wealth of experience to the BC Cancer Foundation, having most recently led a $136 million fundraising campaign for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.

Grace has an extensive background in development, working for over a decade on Vancouver Island; she was campaign director for Vancouver Island University, while residing on Protection Island, off the shore of Nanaimo and then fundraised for the faculties of science and engineering at University of Victoria. “I am so excited to return ‘home’ to Vancouver Island,” said Grace, “Working with the BC Cancer Foundation is an enormously worthy endeavor, combining my passion for research, cancer care and philanthropy.”

Grace will lead the Regional Development Council, working with philanthropic partners and members of the community to engage others with their time, talent and financial resources to enhance support of cancer research and enhancements to patient care.

“I am pleased to welcome Alyssa to the BC Cancer Foundation. At the BC Cancer Foundation we are fortunate to receive tremendous support from donors across Vancouver Island to advance research and enhance patient care at BC Cancer – Victoria. Alyssa and the Foundation look forward to working with our community of supporters to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients,” said Douglas Nelson, BC Cancer Foundation President & CEO.

Philanthropy from Vancouver Island residents is currently at work with a $10 million upgrade to BC Cancer – Victoria. The upgrade was made possible by the two-year Inspire the World campaign and will enable the Agency to integrate care with the best cancer therapies available, as well as the emotional and psychological support needed before, during and after treatment.

The BC Cancer Foundation is the fundraising partner of the BC Cancer Agency, enhancing care and supporting life-saving cancer research initiatives—benefitting patients in BC and beyond.

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For additional information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Allison Colina
BC Cancer Foundation
e. allison.colina@bccancer.bc.ca