With the hugely successful “Care Close to Home” fundraising campaign set to wrap up next month, the Riverside Foundation for Health Care is determined to keep the momentum going in 2001.
“Riverside is excited about our future,” Foundation chair Jim Krag said during a press conference here Monday to officially announce the campaign had raised $3.63 million so far–exceeding its $3.5-million goal.
“The funds raised through ‘Care Close to Home’ will enable the Foundation to not only fund the renovations at La Verendrye hospital and Emo Health Centre, but we can now begin to priorize future equipment needs,” Krag added.
“Since our inception in 1997, the Foundation has seen again and again the generosity of this district,” he stressed.
“The success of this campaign demonstrates the importance that is placed on health care, and we make our commitment to continue with this campaign’s mission to support quality health care–close to home–for many, many years to come.”
What’s more, Krag pledged to keep “Care Close to Home” as the Foundation’s official slogan.
“After all the campaigning, it’s something the district communities have come to recognize. There’s no reason not to keep using it,” he said, though noting the word “Quality” may be added before the first word of the phrase.
Krag also stressed the Foundation will focus on more co-operation with major campaign donors in 2001.
“We look to strengthen partnerships established during this campaign, such as the auxiliaries and the Aboriginal Diabetes Dialysis Initiative,” he remarked. “They have a very strong team, and they have plans for the future.”
An endowment fund will be established to fund any future expansion and enhancement of health care services in the district. “We will continue to work closely with Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. to identify these future needs,” Krag said.
The Foundation also will continue to plan special events, such as its upcoming annual fundraiser dinner slated March 3, at which the “Care Close to Home” committee will present the Foundation with its $3.6-million plus.
With the “Care Close to Home” campaign coming to an end next month, committee chairman John McTaggart said he thinks it will have a lasting impact on district communities.
“The important thing to remember is the Foundation will carry on with this. The money will be turned over to them, and with their own board, they will continue to provide the best health care for the district,” he remarked.
In related news, Wayne Woods, CEO of Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc., gave a brief update Monday on renovations at La Verendrye and the Emo Health Centre–projects being supported by the funds raised through “Care Close to Home.”
“Emo Health Centre is very near completion,” Woods said. “Our staff will be back working on Jan. 15 to help with cleanup and preparation for the transfer of patients.”
Woods added the health centre will be offering public tours of the renovated facility Jan. 30-31, adding, “I think they’ll be extremely pleased with what’s been done.”
Meanwhile, renovations earmarked at La Verendrye here, which hopefully will begin in late spring, have been expanded since the beginning of the campaign.
“We have increased the size of the project to ensure it will accommodate the current services and the future needs in the most efficient means possible,” Woods said.
The Ministry of Health has reviewed the new plans and tentatively given its approval to proceed.
The province is expected to cover about 75 percent of the renovations’ $8-million price tag once final approvals are in place.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
