What a year! People who donated and participated in the events of The Health Foundation should feel very good about the donations they made – we have been able to buy equipment that makes a difference in peoples’ lives.
The Health Foundation has purchased $587,662 of medical equipment for this health region in 2017. We were able to do that because we had a lot of help. Over 5,000 donations have been made to the Foundation so far this year, and we are hoping more people will make a contribution to help us raise the money we need for the surgical microscope.
In addition $253,000 was set aside for the new hospital fund. These proceeds came from the Farming for Health project. The Farming for Health project has reached its goal of raising $1 million; all of those funds have been set aside for the new hospital. Farming for Health will continue but in future years the funds raised will buy needed medical equipment.
Donations make a Difference
Because of the generosity of our donors we purchased several pieces of equipment that are making a difference in our healthcare:
• Two infant resuscitation machines with radiant warmers for maternity,
• Two Anesthetic machines for the operating rooms (we agreed to buy one if the government gave the money to buy one,
• Two ventilators for the Intensive Care Unit
In addition, working with Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer we were able to renovate, furnish and equip two rooms for palliative care in Jowsey House, at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home. This equipment and the palliative care rooms added up to $252,000.
We also raised and spent $118,472 on many smaller pieces of equipment, like a scope for the Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, equipment for nurses working in homecare, and of course we buy equipment for most of the facilities outside of Yorkton.
Another $26,390 was awarded in education scholarships in 2017, to assist nurses and therapists who want to improve their clinical care skills so they can look after patients to the best of their ability. Sometimes when it has been difficult to recruit people for positions, The Foundation provides funds so nurses or medical technicians can take additional training.
The surgical microscope we are raising funds for has a cost of $190,800 after taxes. We still have to raise another $34,000, to pay for it; but we’ve taken a chance and ordered the machine because it’s so important; without it we don’t have a cataract surgery program. However, we have to have the funds raised by the time the machine arrives!
The purpose of the Foundation is to raise funds to buy equipment that will improve and expand the healthcare services that are available locally. Our goal is to reduce travel for healthcare and increase the services available here.
How funds are raised
The Health Foundation raises funds by asking businesses, organizations and individuals for donations. Generally, if people can see there will be a clear benefit by providing a new service or upgrading existing services, they are willing to make a donation. We receive no government funding.
It also raises funds from events like the Charity Golf Tournament, Airwaves for Health Radiothon, Road Race, Gala and Rhythm and Ribs. The golf tournament and the road race involve the public in a large way, because the runners and golfers raise pledges in the community.
Rhythm and Ribs was a brand new event that had over 15,000 people attend. It was an amazing success for a first year event and we will be holding it again in 2018. Look for this event next summer to be bigger and better than ever.
Volunteers are important
Volunteers are critical to the success of the events held each year; with over 300 people volunteering with us. Each event has a committee of volunteers that organize the event, and then there are many more people volunteering on the day of the event. As well, the Foundation also operates the Gift Shoppe at the hospital, where more than 40 people volunteer every week. It is open about 80 hours a week, and staffed completely by volunteers.
— Submitted Story
