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You never know when you or your loved ones will need care—that is why having great health care close to home is so important. When you need help, you want it to be just minutes away.
The generosity of people like you makes this possible for our west-end Toronto community. Our friends and neighbours generously give to help renovate better facilities like the new Our Lady of Mercy Wing, put new equipment like the new infant warmer in use, and fund training for tomorrow’s health care professionals.
Thanks to our family of donors, the 500,000 people living in our neighbourhood can turn to St. Joseph’s when they help the most.
In 2010, donor support totalled $1,860,902.This funding is so important for our community hospital so our teams can treat so many with care, using the most up-to-date technology. At the same time, many of our friends and neighbours shared their stories of hope, compassion and thanks that bring the sentiment My St. Joe’s to life—something you will hear more about this fall.
There is a feeling of great momentum at St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation. I am happy to tell you why. This past year, our volunteers turned their attention to raising critical funds to support the new Our Lady of Mercy Wing. They see the tremendous benefit this 130,000 square foot facility will have for our community, and want to ensure it is equipped with today’s essential medical equipment and all the comforts of home.
It is amazing to think that about 40 per cent of our patients will move into expanded space early in 2012 that is brighter, designed more efficiently, and offers our patients and their families quality care right in their community. Whether it is the birth of the child, or caring for our aging parents, our new Our Lady of Mercy will ensure we have modern facilities so our dedicated health care staff can help our community through those times in life when we need compassionate, professional health care. Our donors have generously supported this milestone for our community that also marks St. Joseph’s 90th anniversary of providing compassionate care to Toronto’s west-end.
The opening of this facility frees up space in our current building for another important donor-funded project. Our Foundation is working with our volunteers to raise critical funds for a Learning Centre. This 9,000 square foot facility is dedicated space for about 3,400 physicians and students so they can benefit from hands-on training, access to the latest in best practices, and collaborate in ways that will enhance care for our families, friends and neighbours. Our community benefits from the ongoing professional development of our physicians and staff.
Everything we do at the Foundation supports patient care. Our efforts align with the strategic priorities of the Health Centre, and we are working closely with all of our doctors, health care professionals, and leadership to build a spirit of giving at St. Joseph’s and throughout our west-end neighbourhood. It’s about making sure our local hospital can provide the best possible care to everyone who comes through its doors.
To help make this happen, I am honoured to work alongside such a fantastic group of volunteers on our Board of Directors. In 2010, we welcomed Tamara Bratty, John Bujouves, Yaseen Nimjee, Michael Talmage, David Kincaid and Gary Selke. Our previous leadership of former directors: Sister Roberta Freeman, The Honourable Sarmite (Sam) Bulte, Scott Ray and Tom Carey, who retired from the Board have positioned our new leadership team well to inspire new donors and new partnerships to support St. Joseph’s. We sincerely thank them for their dedication and commitment to our Health Centre.
Last fall, we also welcomed our new Foundation President Maria Dyck. Maria has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Foundation, and we are excited about the enthusiasm and expertise her team brings to our fundraising efforts. And the best is yet to come.
Every day, our doctors and health care professionals see our patients and their families through life’s most profound moments. Babies are born (more than 3,000 last year) and people turn to us to help them cope with a difficult diagnosis and treatment. This kind of care and support should be close to home for you and your family when you need it.
Thanks to our donors, it is.
Marilynne Day-Linton
Chair, St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation Board