It's a continuing commitment and it's making a difference for both staff and patients within the Sunrise Health Region.
Last week Jonas Haywood, Area Manager for TD Canada Trust, announced another $12,000 donation to The Health Foundation's Education and Scholarship Program. This brings TD Bank Financial Group's total contributions for this scholarship program to $104,000, and brings the total of their contributions to The Health Foundation to $112,000.
"Ten years ago when The Health Foundation wanted to start an education and scholarship program for employees of the health region they approached TD Bank Financial Group for funding. Since then, for ten consecutive years TD Bank Financial Group has provided scholarships for educational courses that contribute to the professional development of nurses or other practicing caregivers in our health region," details Haywood.
"The TD Bank believes in education and in giving back to the communities where we do business. This program allows us to do both of those things and to make a difference in the quality of care available to the people of this area."
"The Health Foundation's Education and Scholarship Program was launched in 2002 with a generous contribution and a long-term commitment from TD Bank Financial Group, and we are very pleased that this partnership continues to this day," comments Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation.
"The Health Foundation is very grateful to TD Bank Financial Group for the generous and consistent support to the Education and Scholarship Program. It is fair to say that without the support of TD Bank our education program would not exist. Ten consecutive years of donations at $10,000 or more a year is simply outstanding and exceptional support."
The Health Foundation's Scholarship Fund awards approximately $24,000 a year to help further the training and education of health care staff in east central Saskatchewan. The TD Bank Financial Group contributes $12,000 annually to fund 50 per cent of the awards.
This year is the second year of a new three-year commitment TD Bank Financial Group made to this program. This agreement will take us to 11 consecutive years TD has partnered with The Health Foundation and made a very significant investment in our local healthcare system through this education program.
Since the program started in 2002, there have been 216 awards totaling $199,919. In addition, the TD Bank Financial Group and The Health Foundation have sponsored three workshops in the past three years for nurses and therapists. Rather than sending nurses and therapists out to workshops, we are bringing the workshops here, allowing more people to take specialized training than would otherwise be possible.
"It is rewarding to see that this program does improve the quality of care that can be provided," adds Hay-wood.
"We have enjoyed working with The Health Foundation over the last ten (10) years. We think this program has succeeded in assisting our nurses and other care givers to enhance their skills and improve the healthcare available in our local medical facilities."
