Foundation - how donations are used

The Huronia Hospitals Foundation began as the Huronia District Hospital Foundation in 1988 to facilitate the HDH Capital Campaign and was renamed to the Huronia Hospitals Foundation in 1998 to support the 1996 formal partnership of HDH and Penetanguishene General Hospital. The Foundation has built its fundraising program on the success of the HDH and PGH capital campaigns that were completed in the early 1990's and raised over $4 million for local hospital services.

The Foundation is governed by its own 9-member volunteer board and is a separate corporation from both hospitals. In this manner, all Foundation funds are kept separate from the hospitals' operating funds and used strictly for capital needs, special projects and education.

An energetic group of community volunteers have worked hand in hand with the Foundation to raise funds for a permanent dialysis unit and new ambulatory care centre. Exilda Robitaille and the rest of the dialysis volunteers (many who are also patients) have organized dances, raffles, bingo games, garage sales and much more to support the hospitals.

The Foundation is grateful for its ongoing support from the HDH Volunteer Association, PGH Auxiliary, hospital staff, local physicians, area service clubs, industries, businesses and individuals who contribute regularly to our hospitals.

The HDH Volunteer Association has sunk $50,000 into a new hydrotherapy pool for patients in need of physiotherapy services at Huronia District Hospital. The new fibre glass hydrotherapy pool was installed in May 2001 and volunteers paid for the total cost of the new pool and its installation, as well as the removal of old pool. Other recent contributions the volunteers have made to local hospital services include the $160,000 redesign of the hospital's front lobby and new coffee bar, and a $15,000 donation to the dialysis campaign.

The Foundation is the fundraising body for the North Simcoe Hospital Alliance, a voluntary partnership of Huronia District Hospital and the Penetanguishene General Hospital. With offices located in Midland and Penetanguishene, the Foundation and hospitals serve the full-time and seasonal residents of these two communities as well as Tiny, Tay and a portion of Springwater and Georgian Bay townships. The Huronia Hospitals Foundation is not a member of the United Way.

The Foundation transfers $500,000 to $600,000 to the hospitals for capital equipment, technology and building needs annually. The Foundation also provides staff support to the hospitals for physician and healthcare professional recruitment, marketing and public relations. Since 1998, the average expenses as compared to income for fundraising has been 30 per cent.

The Foundation currently has $1 million in general assets and $442,000 in endowed funds.

The former Huronia District Hospital Foundation was officially established in December 1988 to assist the capital campaign that raised $2.3 million. Campaign funds were used to expand the Huronia District Hospital (HDH) emergency department, move the laboratory, develop new obstetrics birthing rooms and purchase new x-ray equipment.

Once the capital campaign was complete, the Foundation continued to rely on funds generated from investments as well as charitable donations, estate bequests, endowments and in memorial gifts to buy essential capital equipment and to improve methods of delivering quality patient care at HDH.

In support of the North Simcoe Hospital Alliance's self-motivated restructuring, which helped HDH and Penetanguishene General Hospital meet Ministry of Health funding reductions and improve access to services, the Foundation board began discussion with Penetanguishene hospital representatives to revise its mandate to include both facilities. In 1997 the board of directors of the HDH Foundation motioned to rename the foundation the Huronia Hospitals Foundation.

The name change and new bylaws for the Huronia Hospitals Foundation received government approval in April, 1998. Staff was hired to work directly for the Foundation with the responsibility for fundraising and public relations. The new object as set out in its Letters Patent is:

The joint Foundation is building on the past success of its founding body and the PGH Capital Campaign, which raised more than $2 million in the early 1990s. It has implemented a public relations program and a successful annual giving program which encourages full-time and seasonal residents, industries, businesses and service clubs in North Simcoe to contribute annually through in memory, in appreciation of services and direct mail solicitation. It is also developing a planned giving program to encourage donors to leave gifts of estates, life insurance, annuities etc. to help plan for the future. The Foundation is a separate corporation governed by a board of directors of community leaders and volunteers with a special interest in health care.

Donations in support of local hospital services can be directed to the Huronia Hospitals Foundation offices at either hospital.

The Huronia Hospitals Foundation is a separate corporation responsible for raising funds for Huronia District Hospital and Penetanguishene General Hospital. The Foundation is managed by its own nine-member board of directors representing the communities of North Simcoe County. The board meets approximately six times each year with the Annual General Meeting of the board and members held in June. Directors are nominated by the board development committee and elected by the membership at the annual general meeting. The board is able to fill vacancies by appointment throughout the year but the individual must then stand for election at the annual general meeting.

Individuals from the community may become members of the Foundation by being nominated and appointed by the board. Members in good standing then pay a $5 membership fee upon appointment.

Kathy Elsdon-Befort, President
Dr. Pam Chart, Vice President
Bill Ferguson, Treasurer
Catharine Bayles, President
Case de Jong, Director
Lisa Florschutz, Vice President
Pat McDermott, Director
Greg Neath, Director
Rob Weber, Director

Arnold DeCarli
John Gignac
Robbert Hartog
Hudson Leavens
William (Bill) Moss
Hilda Sibthorpe
Barbara Simpson

Staff of the Huronia Hospitals Foundation support the North Simcoe Hospital Alliance through fundraising, public and media relations, marketing and most recently physician recruitment. The Foundation employs one part time staff person (special events & administrative coordinator) and shares the costs of the one other position with the hospitals.

Laurene Hilderley-Sibley, Director of Development
(705) 526-1300 ext. 3138
sibleyl@nsha.on.ca

Shelly Price, Special Events & Administrative Coordinator
(705) 549-7431 ext. 4311
prices@nsha.on.ca

Jackie McLauchlin-Welch, Communications Officer
(705) 526-1300 ext. 3136
mclauchlinj@nsha.on.ca

The Foundation board and staff are supported by the North Simcoe Hospital Alliance’s business office, payroll services, human resources department, information technology services and the senior administration team. Representing the Alliance at the Foundation board meetings are:

Cathy van Leipsig, Director of Finance and Information Systems
And the Business Office of the North Simcoe Hospital Alliance

The Huronia Hospitals Foundation is a volunteer organization responsible for ensuring that current and future capital funds are available to provide excellent hospital and health care to the people of North Simcoe.

ALL for the benefit of patients at Huronia District Hospital and Penetanguishene General Hospital.