Health Sciences Foundation Receives $507,840 Gift to Support Patient Care
Published Monday, December 29, 2025
Pictured (L–R): Glenn Craig, Sam Bachinski, Marian Boxer, Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, and Dr. Steve Adams recognize a $507,840 gift made on behalf of the Bachinski family, bringing the family's total giving to more than $1 million in support of patient care.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is honoured to announce a new $507,840 donation of securities made on behalf of the Bachinski family. This gift builds on the family's 2019 contribution and, together, represents one of the largest family philanthropic commitments in the Foundation's history.
The donation is made on behalf of the entire Bachinski family, including Marian Boxer, Linda Drindak and her husband Paul, and Sam Bachinski and his wife Margot Freitag, along with their children Mitchell and Claudia. The gift honours their parents, Anne and Sam Bachinski, as well as their granddaughter, Susan Jane Drindak, who passed away at the age of seven due to complications from arthritis.
Anne was one of the first patients to receive care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for kidney cancer. She received terrific care; however, she unfortunately passed away in May 2004. Seven months later, her husband Sam, died after having a heart attack on Christmas Day. Coincidentally, Sam absolutely loved Christmas and the family felt it was fitting that he found a way to be with his family that day, and with his wife.
The Bachinski family's gift will support several areas of patient care that have been meaningful to the family, reflecting a deep appreciation for the care their loved ones received and a desire to support patients and families through similar experiences. The largest portion of the gift is directed to cardiovascular care, with additional funding supporting cancer care, including toward the purchase of a new linear accelerator to support the work of radiation oncologist Dr. Anthes, as well as orthopaedic care through orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Riediger.
“We do know what it's like when you have to leave the support and love of our family,” Marian Boxer said. “My parents travelled with my sister and brother-in-law when Susan was down at the Mayo Clinic. We know what it's like when you can't do it all in one place.”
When my father was in intensive care at the Hospital, the staff were very accommodating to our entire family,” said Sam Bachinski. “Both my parents received excellent care here and it's nice to give back to the community. It's through the help of this hospital that their final days were well received and they had excellent care, so making this second donation allows us to continue helping other families.
As with their earlier contribution, the family chose to make this gift through a donation of securities, a method that allows them to honour their loved ones while also benefiting from the tax advantages that come with gifting publicly traded shares.
“This gift speaks to the remarkable generosity of the Bachinski family and to the spirit of giving we so often see at this time of year,” said Dr. Steve Adams, Chair of the Foundation's Board of Directors. “We are deeply grateful for their continued support and their decision to make a second significant gift to the Foundation while Marian is home with family during the holidays.”
“We are profoundly grateful to the Bachinski family for their generosity in recognition of the care provided to their family and their continued commitment to support others needing care in our Hospital,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC, and CEO of TBRHRI. “Their support will have a lasting impact on cardiovascular surgery, cancer care, and orthopaedic surgery, helping to ensure patients across Northwestern Ontario can access high-quality, compassionate care close to home.”