FootnotesFoundationThat 70's Party36th Annual Dinner & Auction and GenerousDonors Support the OR Project Winter 2024The Foundation is thrilled to announce that through incredible community support from the 36th AnnualDinner & Auction, along with a separate grouping of generous donations, that operating rooms at the HighRiver Hospital will be equipped with advanced equipment to better care for our community. “With the audacious goal of raising $500,000 the OR Project allows us to advance care in the operatingrooms, ensuring that our surgical team has access to the most up-to-date tools which leads to the bestpossible outcomes for our loved ones and contributes to efficient use of these vital resources” stated WendyKennelly, Foundation Executive Director. “We started looking at this project in August and have beenabsolutely overwhelmed by the community support shown and the speed in which we were able to achieveour goal.”What is most exciting is that through this project and the generosity of donors, for the first time ever, we willbe recognizing donors with naming opportunities.continued on page 2 Local physicians most not yet born in the 70's enjoying the nightsCheers to our Dinner & Auction organization committee!
In front of a sold-out crowd at the Dinner Kennelly, announced a transformative gift recently received by the QuonFamily. “Their donation is in honour of their brother and uncle BELFORD QUON who passed away earlier this year.Belf was a pillar of his community, known to many, particularly when he proudly ran Quon’s Grocery downtown. Heserved on town council, was a volunteer fireman, a founding member of the golf club, an ardent curler, softballplayer, and fisherman. And in honour of this donation, we will be naming surgical suite #1 the BELFORD QUONMEMORIAL SURGERY SUITE. The family and our Foundation team are honoured to announce this gift because Belfwas a very special member of the community who did so much for the Town of High River.” In addition, we have a substantial legacy gift from Mrs. Lois Long. Lois passed away in 2023 and made a donationto the Foundation through her estate. Lois had a rewarding career as a nurse and was well respected and wellknown in the community. Lois’s extended family and our Foundation team are honoured to announce that we willbe naming surgical suite #2, the LOIS & LELAND LONG and FAMILY MEMORIAL SURGERY SUITE.The generosity continued, celebrating amazing individual gifts made to purchase specific pieces of equipment:Donating a state-of-the-art cardiac monitor is Ray & Liz BouilletPeter & Johanna Killam have helped to purchase two new highly advanced surgical tablesThe generosity and commitment from the community continued through to the Dinner & Auction raising an incredible$228,500, taking us to our $500,000 goal! The success of this evening is possible because of our generous sponsors,donors and everyone who purchased event and raffle tickets and bid on auction items.Dr. Warner, Chief of Medical staff said “Thanks to our donors through the Foundation, we can enhance the quality ofcare we provide locally. Advanced equipment attracts great staff and over 30 visiting surgeons to work in our twooperating theatres and our endoscopy suite and increases the types of surgical services we can provide in ourcommunity. It’s about so much more than medical intervention. We stay innovative and inspired in our work and we areextremely grateful.” When a light is purchased for the trees at the front of the hospital, it not only brings the spirit of the seasonto life, but every dollar raised is supporting end-of-life and spiritual care services for patients and families.Spiritual Care services are 100% funded by the community. As is the tradition, the family of the late Dr. Len Senger lit the star at the tree lighting ceremony, onNovember 28. As well, families who have lost a loved one and honored them through memorial tributes tothe Foundation were invited to hang a special ornament on the Points of light tree out front.As always we are pleased to light up the Candy Cane Lane at the Hospital. Thanks to FortisAlberta, our HeadElf Chad Lambourn and the Kinsmen Club of High River for lighting up the holiday spirit for patients,residents, families and visitors. If you would like to remember someone special and recognize your “Points of Light”, visithighriverhealthfoundation.ca or our office. Every donation will touch someone at a time when they may needit most. With over 2240 surgeries and 1965 scopes were provided at the High RiverHospital in 2023. An active OR ensures the long-term viability of thehospital and, most importantly, it means patients can obtain surgeries anddiagnostic procedures right here in High River.THANK YOU! This is once again an amazing example of community supportfor hometown healthcare and those being cared for. Baker Tilly Catalyst LLP was awarded the 2024 Clifford and Louise Lougheed Award for outstanding philanthropyChris Alexander, David Laycraft (back)Candice McKay, Sylvia Moore, Gerry Coakwell & Terri Hollowath
The Foundation is excited to partner in Split thePot lottery, providing Albertans the opportunityto win more and win big while supportinghospitals and healthcare foundations across theProvince! This first of its kind lottery brought together 30Hospitals and healthcare foundations with thegoal of heightening healthcare. The inaugurallottery wrapped up on November 14 with the finaljackpot reaching $597,050, shared between earlybird prize winners and 13 lucky final prize winnerswith the grand prize winner taking home$179,050! Locally we celebrated a $2000 earlybird winner - Chris-Anne and $5970 prize winnerMichelle M, both of High River. Ticket purchasers can direct the proceeds fromtheir purchase to a participating hospital orhealthcare foundation of their choice or have theproceeds shared equally among the partners.Split the Pot lottery is an easy and affordable wayfor our community to support our healthcareFoundation and the opportunity to win big isicing on the cake!Through the support of this lottery we will be ableto invest in important medical equipment,services and programs, that might not otherwisebe available, at the High River Hospital, inCommunity Care and Public Health, at the NantonCommunity Health Centre and at the SilverWillow Designated Assisted Living facility. The next lottery will kick off December 5 and willreplace our Holiday Hometown Healthcare 50-50.www.splitthepotlottery.caProud to partner withthe Foundationsupporting andadvancing localhealthcare. A pilot project at the High River Hospital has just beencompleted, showcasing renovations to 5 bathrooms onthe 3rd floor of the hospital. With the primary goal toincrease access and safety for patients and staff, theupgrades to the flooring, doorway openings and fixtureswill be a welcome change for everyone. Funding forthese renovations were funded by proceeds from the2023 Dinner & Auction.Accessible Washroom Upgrades in Acute Care UnitBeforeAfterThe High River District Health Care Foundation is aproud charity partner of Will Power; a national publiceducation campaign designed to inspire Canadians tothink differently about charitable giving and the taxbenefits for your estate.If you are interested in learning more about taxstrategies and other financial tips for donors, you canparticipate in a free webinar at www.willpower.ca/webinaror our feature page at:https://www.willpower.ca/charities/the-high-river-district-health-care-foundation/
The Foundation is led by a committed, volunteerBoard of Directors who approach theresponsibility of being good stewards of ourdonor dollars, with a professional andconscientious manner. If you would like to learnmore about being a future board member, pleasecontact wendy.Kennelly@ahs.ca.Meet our two newest Board members:For more info visit@highriverhealthfoundation.ca 403-652-0129 - 560 - 9 Ave SW High River, AB T1V 1B3 During this special time of year, our staffand Board of Directors would like to shareour gratitude for your unwavering support. Just like the Christmas lights that shinebrightly on the trees in front of the hospital,you are a bright light for us. You guide andinspire our vision for a healthy communitytoday and for generations to come. Thankyou for participating in our fundraisingcampaigns, events and special projects. May the new year ahead be bright andhealthy for you and your loved ones. Welook forward to staying connected and beinginspired by our amazing supporters. We wish you the very best in 2025!Wendy, Cathy & RhondaMeet the BoardTara Giles Tara is an accomplished, localbusiness woman who workedlocally at Malmberg Accountingand is the CFO of L. & T. GilesFarms for the past thirty years. With a keen business eye and acommitment to giving back tocommunity, Tara will play avibrant role on our Board foryears to come. Ruthanne KoyamaRuthanne joins theFoundation with a deeprespect for good healthcarein our community and isinvolved in multiplecommittee and communityvolunteer boards in town.Combining her dedication toservice and a successfulcareer in oil & gas supplychain managementconsulting, Ruthanne is sureto meaningfully contributeto our mission.