At its board meeting yesterday, the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation celebrated 25 years since the creation of the Caring for Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

“What better way to mark the occasion than by giving this year’s earnings to the hospital,” said Foundation Chair, Cheri Knott as she provided GBHS President & CEO Gary Sims a cheque for $575,000 from the Endowment Fund. The money will be used to purchase urgently-needed medical equipment and to assist staff with specialized education & training.

Donations to the Caring for Tomorrow Fund are permanently invested. The annual income earned supports the hospital. A large “Emerging Needs” fund supports high priority medical equipment for the hospital. In addition, 27 named and special purpose funds have been established. Their individual contributions towards the total were as follows:

Emerging Needs: $380,700

Named Funds:
Jessie Calder $50,000
Marie & Carl Kellough $5,250
Cardiac Trust 14,000
D.S. Fleming 4,250
Peter Di Tursi 13,000
Brian Rudrick 3,750
Lois & Donald Dowkes 11,500
Percy & Kathleen Noble 3,000
Robert Edgar 11,500
Coulter Family 3,000
Merna Litwiller 11,000
Henry & Mary Pressey 2,750
Howey Memorial Fund 9,500
IPM 2004 2,000
Catherine Taylor 8,500
Rob & June Shouldice 2,000
Jean Clugston 8,500
Helen Foster 1,500
Large and Cardoso 7,500
Chamberlain Family 600
Gordon & Doris Wilkinson 6,500
Ruth Hindman 500
Tom Williams 5,500

Special Purpose Funds:
Cancer Services $6,000
Heart Care 1,400
Diagnostic Services 1,000
Rehabilitation 300

Carol Smith was Executive Director of the Foundation in 1996 when the Endowment was created. “Establishing an endowment was a leap of faith for us back then. Our goal was a fund of $3 to 5 million to meet the future needs of the hospital. We never imagined a Fund capable of annual contributions of $575,000 – and these will continue to grow. This is such a tremendous success for the community!”

With the payment for 2020, the Endowment has provided a total of $6.2 million to GBHS since its first $20,000 disbursement in 1998. “Support like this is such an inspiration,” said Sims. “I am humbled to see the growing list of names on the Caring for Tomorrow display in the main corridor when I walk past. On behalf of our team of staff and physicians, thank you! – we are honoured to care for our communities.”

A few facts:
First gift transferred to the Endowment 1996
First annual disbursement: $20,000  1998
Most capital contributions in a year: $2,207,957  2004
Total gifts received/designated: $11,554,193
Total disbursed to GBHS since 1996: $6,243,723

The disbursement of $575,000 will help purchase a number of new beds needed in Critical Care, Women & Childcare and Mental Health. It will pay for a number of improvements in the ER, from new waiting room chairs, to upgrading its automatic doors and entry/security systems. Funds will also enable the hospital to replace pressure relief mattresses and upgrade its wired and wireless network infrastructure.

To mark the 25th year of its Caring for Tomorrow Endowment, there is a video available for viewing on Youtube and the Foundation’s other social media channels.

A gift to the Endowment is something almost anyone can consider. Give now with cash or securities, or later, through your Will, RRIF plan or life insurance. Your legacy will improve patient care at the hospital year after year – ensuring future generations get the care they need, when they need it, close to home.

More information on the Caring for Tomorrow Endowment is available at www.oshfoundation.ca or by contacting the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation at 519-372-3925.

source: media release, Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation