Gary Sims, President and CEO of Grey Bruce Health Services received a $515,000 cheque today from the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation. The funds are the proceeds from the Foundation’s Caring for Tomorrow Endowment Fund for 2019.
The Foundation established the Endowment in 1996 to provide an ongoing source of funding for new diagnostic and medical equipment. Since the first anonymous gift of life insurance, hundreds of Will bequests and other donations have been added. “People have responded in such a wonderful way – but what’s even more wonderful is that the Endowment has already provided over $5.5 million to the hospital. This is just in its first 24 years,” said Foundation Chair, Cheri Knott. “One can only imagine its impact on hospital care in the years to come!”
The Endowment is comprised of a large “Emerging Needs” fund which is available to help with the hospital’s most urgent equipment needs. In addition, there have been 27 named and special purpose funds established. Of the $515,000 disbursed to the Hospital, the Emerging Needs Fund contributed $375,000. Contributions from named and special purpose funds were:
Cardiac Trust $13,250 D.S. Fleming $4,000
Peter Di Tursi 12,250 Brian Rudrick 3,750
Lois & Donald Dowkes 10,500 Cancer Services 3,500
Merna Litwiller 11,000 Percy & Kathleen Noble 2,750
Robert Edgar 10,500 Coulter Family 2,500
Jessie Calder 9,500 IPM 2004 2,000
Howey Memorial Fund 9,000 Rob & June Shouldice 2,000
Catherine Taylor 7,500 Heart Care 1,400
Jean Clugston 7,500 Helen Foster 1,250
Large and Cardoso 7,000 Diagnostic Services 1,000
Gordon & Doris Wilkinson 6,400 Chamberlain Family 600
Tom Williams 5,000 Ruth Hindman 550
Marie & Carl Kellough 5,000 Rehabilitation 300
From new case carts for Surgery and new ultrasound equipment for Medical Imaging to replacement wheelchairs and furniture throughout the hospital, the endowment disbursement helped fund equipment for at least seven departments at the hospital in 2019. Of the total, $10,900 was designated for clinical staff education and training.
Donor designated donations totalling $808,257 were added to the Endowment during 2019 including a $671,000 for the Jessie Calder Endowment from her Estate. $21,000 was added to the Coulter Family Fund. The Henry & Mary Pressey Endowment was established in December to support the purchase of medical equipment and items related to patient comfort.
Contributing to the Endowment is something almost anyone can consider. You can give now with a gift of 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.
More information on the Caring for Tomorrow Endowment Fund is available by contacting the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation at 519-372-3925.
