By  Prabhjot Singh

BRAMPTON (TIP): Sanjay Malaviya, an  Indo-Canadian and a leading name in  IT healthcare industry, has made a huge  first of its kind donation to the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Foundations. He has announced a donation of $ 1.2 million to directly support Canadian Olympic and Paralympic medalists besides extending support to the NextGen programme of preparing future Olympians and Paralympians.

This is the first time a gift of this magnitude has been given directly to Olympic and Paralympic medalists through either foundation. They will receive a $5,000 grant per medal earned. Additionally, $100,000 will go to the NextGen program to help support future Olympians and Paralympians.

“Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes have inspired and united us during a very difficult time,” said Malaviya. “It’s an honor to be able to celebrate their achievements and invest in their future.”

In total, 130 Olympians and 53 Paralympians will receive a grant through this donation. Sanjay Malaviya  started a Toronto based patient safety software company in  late 90s and served  on its Board as President and CEO for a little more than two decades. From a single product company  that took roots in  IT Department of a hospital, Sanjay made it a leading provider of risk management, patient feedback, claims management and infection surveillance software to over 2000 healthcare organizations around the world.

Sanjay  has been instrumental to the IT-based healthcare solutions with an exclusive endorsement from the American Hospital Association. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Sanjay has used both his degree in Computer Engineering, as well as his almost decade of experience in a hospital setting, to offer a truly unique perspective on healthcare IT. He continues to be driven by his passion for making healthcare software not only cutting-edge, but also intuitive and easy to use for even the most casual user.

“The gift Sanjay has made is truly remarkable, especially following the challenges Team Canada athletes have faced over the past few years,” said Jacquie Ryan, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee and CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. “Sanjay’s belief in the power of sport, and the impact Olympic and Paralympic medalists have on all Canadians is truly inspiring.”

Malaviya is a Canadian healthcare technology entrepreneur who developed cutting-edge IT products that have helped to keep patients safer in more than 2,000 healthcare organizations around the world. His passion for sport comes from his appreciation of the lessons that athletes can carry from sport to all other aspects of life. In particular he loves the leadership and resilience that Team Canada athletes have demonstrated over the past two years and thinks this has been a source of inspiration for all Canadians to share Olympic and Paralympic values.

“We are truly grateful that Sanjay saw the importance of recognizing Paralympic medalists alongside their Olympic counterparts,” said Dean Brokop, Director of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada. “This generous gift will play a pivotal role in empowering Canada’s finest athletes as they work towards reaching more podiums in Paris and Milan-Cortina.” Recipient Abigail Strate won a historic Olympic medal by securing Canada’s first-ever medal in ski jumping, a bronze in the mixed team event at Beijing 2022.

“In order to be competitive globally, an athlete needs access to the best equipment, services and facilities, which undoubtedly requires financial support. As a member of the Ski Jumping Canada Women’s National Team, I live abroad to have consistent access to training facilities,” said Strate. “I am incredibly grateful for the support Sanjay has provided. His undeniable commitment to sport will make each of us strive to make our country proud.” Para Nordic skier Mark Arendz won four medals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games to bring his career total to 12. “On behalf of all my fellow Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympians, a huge thank you to Sanjay for this gift,” added Arendz, a four-time Paralympian. “This is a significant step forward in the recognition of Canadian Paralympic athletes who work and train so hard to compete on the world stage. I am optimistic that Sanjay’s generosity will serve as a catalyst for greater equality for Canadian athletes with a disability that so proudly represent our country.”

( Prabhjot Singh is a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience covering a wide spectrum of subjects and stories. He has covered  Punjab and Sikh affairs for more than three decades besides covering seven Olympics and several major sporting events and hosting TV shows. For more in-depth analysis please visit probingeye.com  or follow him on Twitter.com/probingeye)