In 2007, Isadore and Rosalie Sharp made another large donation to Mount Sinai Hospital in the name of a cause that is very dear, and always near to their hearts: the Christopher Sharp Centre for Surgery & Oncology.

Named for their son, who passed away in 1978 after battling melanoma, the Centre will align new surgical technology with human expertise. The department provides world-class clinical and academic programs in gastrointestinal disease, surgical oncology, orthopaedic surgery and urology.

“Our son is still part of our family,” says Mr. Sharp, founder and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “This is a way of acknowledging that he is always part of the good that we do.”

The Sharps’ $5 million gift will fund the renovation of surgical suites that will offer patients the benefits of state-of-the art technology, including tele-surgery and laproscopic capabilities. It will also create a comfortable, healing environment for patients, many of whom spend several months in the Hospital following reconstructive orthopaedics or sarcoma programs.

It’s nearly 40 years since Isadore and Rosalie Sharp made their first donation to Mount Sinai. They are stalwart supporters of the Hospital, funding MRI and other equipment, research initiatives and the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre.

For the Sharps, the Hospital is the most visible and important symbol of the Toronto Jewish community. “Mount Sinai is an amazing institution. It is a good example of setting out to do something, and discovering there are no limits to how far you can go,” says Mr. Sharp. “It started because Jewish doctors couldn’t find anywhere to work, but it’s always been an inclusive hospital. It stands like a beacon.”

Thanks to the support of donors like Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, that beacon continues to shine.