Bram Freedman, who’s currently a vice-president of Concordia University, will succeed Myer Bick as president and CEO of the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) Foundation, following Bick’s retirement on Aug. 6, the foundation announced on May 8.
The Freedman family has a long tradition with the JGH. “My grandfather was the founding chief of otolaryngology at the JGH some 85 years ago,” Freedman noted. “The hospital is where my father, Dr. Samuel O. Freedman, former dean of medicine and provost of McGill University, finished his career as director of the Lady Davis Research Institute.
“I will now be the third generation of my family to serve the hospital. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”
Bick will work with Freedman during a transition period and then continue his association with the foundation in an advisory capacity.
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“On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Myer Bick for his tireless and motivated leadership of the JGH Foundation over the past 17 years,” said JGH Foundation chair Edward Wiltzer. “We are deeply grateful to Myer for his innumerable contributions to the foundation’s success, and the growth and development of the hospital. He is regarded as a leader by his peers in the philanthropic sector and the foundation’s external stature, as well as operating performance, have benefited immensely from his leadership and guidance.”
Bick oversaw two capital campaigns that raised $200 million and $250 million, respectively, for the foundation.
Wiltzer said Freedman has strong management skills and a background in fundraising in the public sector. He also has been an active volunteer in the health-care sector for two decades.
“His proven track record and leadership style equip him well for the challenges ahead,” said Wiltzer. “We have built a strong fundraising engine with professional, talented and caring staff dedicated to serving the hospital and our donors’ needs. I am confident that Bram is the right person to lead us to even greater success.”
Bick spoke fondly of his time at the foundation, saying that he is “proud to have played a role, together with my colleagues and devoted volunteer leaders, in advancing this exceptional institution through the many significant accomplishments we have achieved.”
He went on to say that, “I am pleased to pass the torch to Bram, whom I have known for years. I have every confidence that he will lead the JGH Foundation into the future to ensure that this world-class hospital and research institution has the resources to continue its long tradition of medical excellence benefiting the people of Quebec.”
Freedman is a lawyer by training who began his career at Concordia in 1992 as an assistant legal counsel, rising to the position of assistant secretary general and general counsel when he left the university in 2003 to join Federation CJA as its chief operating officer and director of external relations.
He returned to Concordia in 2008, when he was appointed vice-president of external relations and secretary general.
I am thrilled to be joining the JGH Foundation and lead this great organization.
– Bram Freedman
For the last five years, as vice-president of advancement and external relations, he helped bring fundraising to record levels for the university. From a five-year average of $10 million in funds raised, Concordia has brought in over $25 million annually in recent years.
Under Freedman’s leadership, the university launched the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen, the university’s most ambitious fundraising appeal to date, which has raised over $140 million of its $250-million goal.
“I am thrilled to be joining the JGH Foundation and lead this great organization that Myer, along with his team of talented and dedicated professionals and exceptional volunteer leadership, has built,” said Freedman.