Managing Director’s Report

AGM 2011

We are thrilled to have seen our fundraised revenues surpass last year by almost $300,000. This increase was generated primarily from major gift asks, our new February 14^th Radiothon, Cash Cow, bequests and our summer resident direct mail.  With the support of 2,792 donors giving us 4,775 gifts we saw almost three quarters of a million dollars in fundraised revenues.   Of these donors, 484 were new. 

These fundraised gifts helped us to disperse over $645,000 to South Shore Health to enhance patient care through medical equipment purchases and education.   We were pleased to assist in the purchase 33 cardiac monitors for many South Shore Regional Hospital departments including Maternal/Child, Day Surgery, Emergency, ICU and Endoscopy.  Two cardiac monitors were bought for the FMH Emergency Department.  As well, we bought a bedpan washer, a specialized ceiling lift and 4 beds for Fishermen’s. We also had a very generous donor make a Telehealth system a possibility for the Mental Health Department at the Dawson Centre.  We were also pleased to assist SSH in physician and nursing recruitment by providing $120,000.   This funding has made it possible to bring GPs, specialists and nurses to SSH.

Since our existence we have been gratified to provide over $9,443,000 to South Shore Health to improve healthcare and the lives of individuals and families in our district.

Our cardiac monitor campaign hit home for many donors, raising in excess of $145,000 in a short period of time.   We were very fortunate to have a few generous donors give us significant gifts of stock for these monitors.  This method of gifting saves the donor capital gains tax while providing a large and immediate gift to the Foundation. 

John Tatlow, from Chester, chairs our very active Planned Giving committee which works diligently to highlight the profile of the Foundation and encourage individuals to consider a tax saving gift in their will.  This year we received $97,000 in bequests: a tremendous increase over last year.  The committee and staff in the Maternal/Child Department hosted a very successful tour last fall.  We invited donors, who had helped us to buy a new $52,000 ultrasound/bladder scanner.  We were thrilled to show this ultrasound live on two willing mothers-to-be; one with a 13 week baby in-utero and the other with a 32 week baby in-utero.  Most donors had never seen this technology when having their own children and found it fascinating.  Thank you to the staff and managers who welcome us to their units and educate us on the tremendous work that they do with the equipment that the Foundation buys.  Our tours will continue and as we look into the fall we will host financial sessions looking at the tax savings benefits of insurance.

The Development Committee, chaired by Cecilia Webb, has finalized a donor recognition policy which is looking at an overall recognition system in both sites for the thousands of donors who invest in our healthcare through the Foundation.   

The Grateful Patient program, a staff favourite, raised $2,500 this year, and offers an opportunity for patents to honour and thank a caregiver who has gone above and beyond.  These are often heartfelt and tearful presentations. 

Our Cash Cow staff lottery has become a mainstay.  This internal staff fundraiser has grown grossing over $42,000 for the bursary program for SSH.  The Foundation gives away $500 each payday to staff as well as three $1,000 bonus draws totaling $15,000 in winnings.  Staff excitement with this program has been very rewarding.  Revenues from this fundraiser are directed toward our bursary program which is designed to fund local students’ post secondary costs with a return for service agreement.  Last year we took on 8 new students with 3 graduating from the program.  This has been a successful partnership funded by the Queen’s General Hospital Foundation, The Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and ourselves.    

Most of our events are longstanding events. Although this year we claimed Valentines Day as ours with our first Radiothon generously sponsored by CKBW.  This live, 10 hour radiothon incorporated medical staff, administration, Foundation volunteers and staff and patients.  With a goal of $15,000 we were astounded when we had raised $50,000 from the community by the end of the day.   Donations were made from as far away as Florida, from corporations, individuals and couples.  All monies raised supported our cardiac monitor campaign which will touch the hearts of many families in our community.

Flagship events like the 12^th annual Hit It For Health golf tournament, chaired by John Biddle, continues to do well. Last July 7th we raised over $28,500 toward the purchase of a recumbent bike system for the Echo Lab.  This year we are hoping to increase revenues with ticket sales on a $5,000 travel gift certificate from SellOffVacations.   

We made significant changes to our Jeans & Gems, our annual dinner, dance and auction event by moving it to the Best Western Hotel and partnering with the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation.  Our Western theme was a hit as we raised over $19,000 to assist in the purchase of the ultrasound for the Maternal/Child department.   

In February the annual Curl for a Cause bonspiel, chaired by Anne Cosgrove, netted an extraordinary $34,000 to buy four beds and two cardiac monitors for FMH.  Once again this bonspiel and its tremendous committee have increased its revenues over the previous year with donations of food, time and money.

A growing component of our direct mail program is a small summer campaign sent to seasonal residents.  Through the personal delivery of many of these letters John Chandler, John Tatlow and Ted Cleather raised an additional $14,000 from this group, almost tripling revenues from the previous year.  We continue to build on our list of summer residents and ask them to support our hospitals which are there for their families while they summer in our area.   

Third party fundraising from the community continues to bring in significant revenues from various groups including community groups, recreational groups, schools and a number of businesses. 

These are just a few of our fundraising highlights.  Each day we have the privilege of working with donors and community volunteers who are dedicated to investing in our community healthcare through the Foundation.  I am grateful for this opportunity. 

In closing, I want to extend a special thank you to our Board members, many of whom dedicate a full 8 years of service to our Board and many hours from their families. Thank you to Philip Leefe who is leaving our Board this year after several years of service.  Thank you to Belinda Smith and Bernadette Jordan who are dedicated and energetic and also to Gail Wilson of Belliveau Veinotte, for her guidance, her spectacular memory and her ability to decipher Canada Revenue Agency bulletins.  

Respectfully Submitted, 

Arleen Stevens

Managing Director