Community rallies for families
It was a day that all 750,000 residents of the Southern Interior health region can be proud of.
On May 31, the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation’s second annual Day of Giving, donations poured in to support JoeAnna’s House, a home away from home for families from outside the Central Okanagan who must travel to Kelowna for advanced care.
With all the loonies and toonies now counted, and then matched by one very generous donor, the Better Together campaign to build and operate JoeAnna’s House is $355,456 closer to reaching its $8-million goal.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” noted an emotional Doug Rankmore, CEO of the KGH Foundation. “We knew that people would get behind this project but raising this amount is just astonishing. This community should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Between local businesses, KGH staff, doctors, nurses and commuters, people walking in, calling, texting and donating online, $177,728 was collected by KGH Foundation staff and volunteers from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year, the one-day fundraising effort was further amplified by the generosity of Al Hildebrandt, president of the Kelowna Foundation for Hope and Social Innovation, who matched every gift made on the Day of Giving dollar for dollar, bringing the final total raised to $355,456.
“What a thrill this has been,” said Hildebrandt, former CEO of QHR Technologies, who spent most of the morning at KGH as the donations rolled in.
“I am humbled by the generosity of folks and what I have witnessed here today.”
The success of the Day of Giving was significantly buoyed by the support of Day of Giving lead partner, Bell Media. Starting at 6 a.m. with Phil Johnson, live at KGH with his Early Show on AM1150, jocks from all Bell stations broadcast from the hospital all day, telling stories and bringing people closer to what was happening at KGH.
“Bell’s contribution to Day of Giving is invaluable,” says Shauna Nyrose, communications director of the KGH Foundation.
“Sharing stories and connecting people to this cause is pivotal. And they really delivered.”
Staff of the KGH Foundation wish to whole-heartedly thank everyone who gave during yesterday’s Day of Giving to support JoeAnna’s House.
Indeed, we can, and do, achieve big things when we work together.
Supplied by KGH Foundation.