Foundation expenses are all legitimate

RE: CEOs hidden expenses questioned (Feb. 21)

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation is honoured to be the grateful recipient of funds from donors throughout our community.

We take great care and pride in ensuring funds raised support hope, healing and discovery at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. In fact, donations to St. Joe’s have enabled innovative research, the expansion of facilities and campuses, and the delivery of exceptional patient care to the more than two million people in the region we are honoured to serve.

We are proud to share a strong relationship with the Hospital and St. Joseph’s Health System leadership and encourage their involvement in our fundraising activities. The expenses submitted to St. Joe’s Foundation by Dr. Kevin Smith, CEO of St. Joseph’s Healthcare, are related specifically to fundraising and donor activities aimed at enhancing the services the hospital has been privileged to provide for 126 years. All expenses submitted follow the foundation’s process for approval and reimbursement.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation is proud to be one of only a small group of charities in Canada to have achieved accredited status through Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. The program recognizes excellence by Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations across several key pillars, including financial accountability and transparency, and fundraising practices.

Our accreditation is a further demonstration of our long-standing commitment to being a donor-centred, responsible and accountable fundraising organization.

We remain very grateful to the donors who support our foundation and hospital, and to our hospital and system leadership who are so truly committed to St. Joe’s success in the future. Sarah F. Matthews, Chair, Board of Directors St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation