Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation zeroes in on donors

BY BRIAN BLOOM

The Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation has a new strategy to gather much-needed funds for West Island healthcare: make things personal.

The foundation has a long history of soliciting donations from the community. But this year, the letters area residents receive will contain a more direct plea.

“We’re now sending them personalized,” said Silvana Orrino, executive director of the foundation. In the past the letters were fairly generic, she said.

Since Orrino took up her position in May, organizers have hoped she would inject some new energy into the annual campaign and encourage more people in the community to give.

So far, under her guidance, the foundation has armed itself with a new logo and slogan ('working together for health care excellence.') Giving the foundation a new look and feel will get their message across better, they hope.

The campaign this year will appeal directly to people who have donated in the past to increase their donations. And it will also aim to persuade those who haven’t to consider doing so in the future. And along with soliciting donations, the foundation is actively seeking human capital.

“They’re the core of the foundation,” said Orrino about volunteers. “We wish we had more of them.”

Since the early 1990s, West Islanders have donated million of dollars to the Lakeshore General Hospital. The money has gone towards the purchase of crucial equipment, notes Orrino. The foundation has a list of important additions to the Lakeshore hospital that donations have helped procure. They include foetal monitors, MRI devices, operating tables, surgical lasers and ECG machines.

Every year the foundation organizes a series of events to get people involved in the cause: a hospital ball, a golf tournament, a Christmas wrapping project, a `phonathon’—even a duck race. These events have proved successful and run consistently every year. Individuals and corporate parties are welcome to participate. Donations are tax-deductible and generous donors will be recognized for their support.