On Tuesday July 2, 2024, The Weber Foundation presented major gifts to thirteen local charities, totalling $22.5-million. The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation was honoured to receive $3.3-million at the invite-only event, held at the Midland Cultural Centre (MCC).
The Weber Foundation was established in 1997 by Reinhart and Alexandra Weber. Over the past 27 years, the Foundation had donated more than $28-million to local charities, including more than $2.1-million to GBGH. These gifts have had a profound impact on health care in our community, through investment in equipment, technology, education and capital developments.
“The Weber Foundation has made a lasting impact,” shared Matthew Lawson, president & CEO, GBGH. “The Weber Foundation was an integral partner in the redevelopment of the Emergency Department, giving patients a much more comfortable arrival to our hospital and the space needed for our clinicians to support them. When GBGH needed a new Ophthalmoscope to ensure our surgical teams can provide gold standard eye care during cataract surgery, the Weber foundation stepped up to provide the funding to purchase that equipment.”
The gift received on July 2nd will build on the legacy of The Weber Foundation today, and well into the future. $833,333 will be invested in the newly named ‘Weber Foundation Endowment Fund’ marking the first contribution toward future new hospital expansion. This allows for $2.5-million to be dedicated to addressing the highest priorities at GBGH, including building a new acute mental health program.
“The Weber Foundation has enhanced health care in every part of our hospital,” says Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation. “This investment for the future is going to benefits patients for generations to come, and we are thrilled to celebrate this lifetime of philanthropy as we build an acute mental health program, and, following that, a new hospital.”
In the photo (from left): Dr. Richard Thomas, GBGH physician; Bernie Uhlich, chair, GBGH Board of Directors; Dr. Vikram Ralhan, chief of staff, GBGH; Jesse Dees, chief development officer, GBGH Foundation; Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation; Reinhart Weber, The Weber Foundation; Robyn Blanchet, community giving officer, GBGH Foundation; Victoria Evans, key relationships officer, GBGH Foundation; Matthew Lawson, president & CEO, GBGH; John Walker, director, GBGH Foundation Board.