P.K. Subban donates $10M to Montreal Children's Hospital
The Montreal Children's Hospital is getting a boost from one of the city's favourite Habs.
It's naming its atrium in honour of P.K. Subban on Wednesday morning, after the star defenceman made what the hospital is calling "the biggest philanthropic commitment by a sports figure in Canadian history."
"Montreal has become my second home," Subban said. "My love for Montreal is why I wanted to make a significant contribution to this city and this province."
The funding will be used in part for a fund called P.K.'s Helping Hands, which will help families struggling financially with a child's illness.
An official announcement was made at the hospital today, but Subban missed the beginning of it as he was stuck in traffic.
He arrived to a standing ovation and shouts of "P.K.! P.K.!" from the large crowd gathered in the atrium for the announcement.
"As I was walking out of the backroom, I noticed the P.K. Subban lettering up there and I got goosebumps," Subban said pointing to his name which now adorns a wall on the atrium.
"It's not too many times I get goosebumps in what I do playing hockey for a very long time in front a lot of people. That's probably the only time I got goosebumps in a long time."
Greg Rokos, chair of the board of directors of the Montreal Children's Hospital foundation, said the donation was like "Christmas in September."
On hand for the announcement this morning were Subban's parents, his sister Natassia, Élise Béliveau, the wife of late Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau, and Michel Lacroix, head announcer of the Montreal Canadiens.
The new Montreal Children's Hospital opened at the Glen site earlier this year.