The purpose of the Shuswap Hospital Foundation is to accept, manage and disburse funds and properties to the benefit of Shuswap Health Services. This entity includes Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Bastion Place, (a residential care facility) and Community Care Services. Funds are used to help meet the need for priority equipment and facilities that will enhance the care of patients and residents of these health care facilities and services. All investments and property are held in trust.
The original foundation was formed in 1986 as the Shuswap Lake General Hospital Endowment Foundation Society. In 1990 a major fund raising campaign was organized to help raise $300,000 to assist in equipping the then 100 bed Bastion Place. In 1993 three health care societies of the Shuswap were amalgamated. This brought together the Shuswap Lake General Hospital Society, the Pioneer Lodge Society and the Home Support Services Society. With this amalgamation the society name was changed to the Shuswap Lake Health Care Foundation Society with a mandate to support the Shuswap Lake General Hospital.
In 2006 the foundation adopted another name change to “Shuswap Hospital Foundation” to more readily identify the foundation with its function as fundraiser and support to the Shuswap Lake General Hospital and associated services. Like other hospital foundations, our role today is increasingly more significant, as health care costs rise and the demands on the system grow, along with population and demographic changes in the area.
Between 1986 and 2006, over $1.5 million was raised from various community wide campaigns. There is an increasing reliance on the generosity of the citizens and business leaders of our community to maintain the highest standards of health care in our region.
2009-2010
2010-2011
Left side : Rick Hirtle, Kathryn Vennard, Joe Johnson (Vice President), Jim Kimmerly, Addie Williams (Secretary), Top: Ralph Owens (Treasurer), Brian Ayotte (President), Doug Murray, Peter Du Toit (IHA Administration liaison), Right Side: Phyllis Andrews (Office Manager), Terry Sinton, Adele Ainsworth (Auxiliary rep), Jackie Morrison, Eugene Casavant (Managing Director (Volunteer), Ted Brecknell, and taking the picture Duncan Myers (Development Coordinator) .
An office is located within the hospital just past the Main Entrance. Two support staff assist the volunteer Board of Directors in the day to day operations of the foundation. Costs of operation, including campaign costs, are generally met by interest earned on investments held by the foundation.
Formed in 1911 as the Ladies Hospital Committee, this organization of dedicated volunteers (currently 70 members and 33 youth volunteers), has a 10 year history of providing key communication services for the public upon entry to the hospital. Volunteers greet and direct day surgery patients and the general public on a daily basis. The Auxiliary also undertakes a variety of fund raisers each year, including a Garage Sale and Bake Table, Christmas Wrap at Piccadilly Mall and Phoneouts for Fabricland. Funds raised from these events and their gift shop at the hospital entrance are used to purchase equipment to aid in the are and comfort of patients in the community. They also award yearly scholarships and provide supplemental care by distributing emergency care bags for ER patients. The hospital foundation and the auxiliary work side by side to help provide enhanced community support for the hospital. Most recently, copies of the Auxiliary’s Centennial Project cook book were donated to the foundation who in turn gave as a gift for all those donors who gifted $100 or greater towards the CT Scanner campaign in 2007. The current liaison to the Foundation Board is Adele Ainsworth.