May 4, 2004

A job well done - Health Care foundation has done a lot to improve quality of health care
by Managing Editor: Darrell Cole of the Amherst Daily News

The Cumberland Health Care Foundation honoured one of its longest serving volunteers in Marsh Fox during its annual dinner on Friday while also looking back at what was another successful year for the organization.

When organizers first established the foundation a decade ago, primarily to raise funds for construction of a new hospital, they probably had no idea it would grow to become the success it has or that its legacy would continue long after the Above & Beyond Campaign concluded.

The past year was a busy one of the foundation as it continued to work on implementing the goals set out in its strategic planning process and strived to increase public awareness toward the work of the organization and the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.

Foundation chair Phyllis Cameron gave those attending the Sixth Annual Foundation Dinner an update on the work of the foundation over the last year and what a year it was with three major fundraisers - the Foundation Dinner, Light the Way and the Highland Classic Charity Golf Tournament - enjoying unparalleled success.

Since its inception in 1998 as a way to spread Christmas cheer and raise funds for the foundation during the holiday season, Light the Way has contributed in excess of $225,000 in important purchases including a portable ultrasound sonosite and an infrared spectrometre from last year's campaign.

Established first as a fundraiser for the Above & Beyond Campaign, the Highland Classic which is celebrating its ninth anniversary in August, has surpassed the $186,000 while the Foundation Dinner, formerly known as the Chairman's Gala, has also contributed thousands to the work of the hospital foundation. As much success as those events have enjoyed, they are only a fraction of the work being done everyday by the foundation.

The foundation has also established links and partnerships with the Cumberland Health Authority and the hospital auxiliary and has worked with both organizations and other community partners on a variety of projects that have benefited the hospital and the community as a whole, including the hiring of a volunteer services coordinator and the establishment of an art gallery at the hospital.

Just last month, the foundation took another step forward when it kicked off another campaign in the form of direct mailing to every household in Cumberland County. Through this campaign, the foundation will be able to update the community on some of the wonderful things happening at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre while a the same time expanding its donor base.

Some of these efforts were recognized recently when the foundation's managing director Jodi Swan was honoured with the Rising Star Award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Atlantic Philanthropy Dinner in Halifax.

Through these efforts, and many more, the foundation is well on its way to fulfilling its mission of enhancing the ability to provide a high standard of health care to all residents of Cumberland County by raising funds and supporting new and improved services, programs, equipment and facilities.

All of this has been made possible thanks to the work of Swan and a very dedicated group of volunteers serving on the board and the numerous fundraisers and other events held by the foundation every year.

Friday night was a night to celebrate the foundation's accomplishments and there's no question there's lots to celebrate.

Take a bow, you deserve it.