News GBGH Foundation NewsTiny Township continues vital support for GBGHJuly 26, 2021On Tuesday, July 21, 2021, the Township of Tiny Mayor, George Cornell, presented the GBGH Foundation with a cheque for $20,000! These vital funds will go to the Foundation’s Impact Fund, which provides support for the hospital’s most urgent priority needs in 2021-2022. Gail Hunt, President & CEO, GBGH along with Nicole Kraftscik, Executive Director, GBGH Foundation, joined the Township Council meeting to ‘virtually’ receive the cheque and thank Council for the incredible lifetime support of more than $280,000…including an $80,000 commitment from council during this most recent term. Thank you to the Township of Tiny for your generous, ongoing support for our Georgian Bay General Hospital!... Read more...Bourgeois Auto Group makes $100,000 pledge to GBGH!June 29, 2021In May 2021, Bourgeois Auto Group, owned by Adam & Beth Bourgeois, committed $100,000 to Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to help address the highest capital priorities over the next ten years. Adam & Beth have been long-time, loyal supporters of GBGH, and this gift is a testament to the ongoing partnership between Bourgeois Auto Group and the GBGH Foundation. “Beth and I were both born and raised in the Midland area, and we feel a strong obligation to give back,” shares Adam. “The community has been great to us, they have supported all of our businesses, and so the hospital was the logical choice to impact as many people as we could with one donation.” The Bourgeois family has been giving back to GBGH for more than two decades, with support for annual equipment appeals, the Our Best Care campaign, Buy a Bed program and many golf tournaments. “Bourgeois Auto Group, and the Bourgeois family, are such great supporters of our community and of the hospital,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Their philanthropic leadership has inspired support over the years, and I am confident this elevated partnership with GBGH will continue to bring people together for local healthcare for years to come.” With this year’s gift, Bourgeois Auto Group is encouraging the community to support GBGH through monthly giving, by matching all new monthly donations to the GBGH Foundation. Those wishing to make a monthly gift to support the hospital, and have their gift matched by Bourgeois Auto Group, can visit: https://gbghf.ca/monthly-giving Bourgeois Auto Group is also a proud sponsor of this year’s Power of Giving Virtual Gala, taking place on Saturday, August 21, 2021. ... Read more...Midland Legion Supports GBGH ICUJune 18, 2021From left – Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation; Cindy Lockhart, president, Ladies Auxiliary, Ron Adair, president, and Tim Sweeting, Midland Legion Branch 80; Gail Hunt, president & CEO, GBGH; Lisa Wanamaker, donor relations & stewardship officer, GBGH Foundation. On May 20th, members of the Midland Royal Canadian Legion Branch 80 visited Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to present a cheque for $5,200. Their generous donation has been invested in Telemetry Packs for GBGH’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), providing portable cardiac and vital signs monitoring for patients recovering from a stroke, cardiac episode or trauma. The Midland Legion has supported GBGH with more than $64,000 over the last 21 years. ... Read more...Life-saving story inspires $25,000 match giftApril 12, 2021On April 12, 2021, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation kicked off their spring appeal, with a goal to raise $65,000 for the GBGH Impact Fund. Dollars raised will help to address the most critical equipment and technology needs at the hospital in 2021. To help achieve the goal, the team at Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC has offered to match donations, up to a total of $25,000. The appeal features the heartwarming story of Nancy Moreau, a local resident who credits the ICU team at GBGH for saving her life. Nancy’s story, including a video produced by Kevin Haire, can be found here. “I don’t like to think about it,” says Nancy. “Everything is a bit of a blur, but I know they gave me antibiotics to fight the infection and then later that night I was nodding off and I started to choke, and I couldn’t breathe at all. I saw a white tunnel of light and all of the doctors and nurses were over me and then I finally was able to get air. I later found out that I stopped breathing three times that night and Dr. Tahir and the team in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) fought all night long to save my life multiple times.” It was Nancy’s story that inspired Steve Jacklin, owner of Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC, to offer the match gift with the hope that it would inspire other individuals and businesses in the community to support the hospital. “The biggest thing that inspires me to give to the hospital, is that I think we all can relate that we have a Nancy in our lives; whether it’s our aunt, wife, or next-door neighbour,” says Steve Jacklin, owner of Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC. “If we can help any community member through an experience like Nancy’s, by our donation, that’s the best way that we can give back to the most amount of people in our community.” The appeal is especially critical this year, as the hospital recovers from a year of pandemic response and refocuses on replacing and upgrading the equipment and technology that is so desperately needed across the organization. The newly created Impact Fund offers donors the opportunity to invest in the items which are of the highest priority each year. “The Impact Fund is where we see the incredible impact our community has on patient care when we all work together,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “From defibrillators and crash carts, to the implementation of a transformative electronic patient record system, the items purchased from collective giving through the Impact Fund provide an immediate enhancement to care delivery at GBGH.” Those wishing to make a donation to support the hospital, and have their gift matched by the team at Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC, can click here.... Read more...Kim Mitchell & Raytheon ELCAN salute the team at GBGH!February 12, 2021On February 12, 2021, the employees at Raytheon ELCAN Optical Technologies are sending 600 carnations to the entire team at Georgian Bay General Hospital. They want the staff, credentialed staff and volunteers at GBGH to know that their dedication to patients and our community does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated! PLUS, they have a special video message to share with the team:... Read more...A generous gift of $5,000 from the Township of Georgian BayFebruary 12, 2021The GBGH Foundation has received a $5,000 donation from the Township of Georgian Bay to support the hospital’s IMPACT FUND. These funds will be used for the highest priority capital purchases at GBGH in the coming year. Georgian Bay General Hospital serves residents from Port Severn and Honey Harbour, and this generous gift from the Township is a testament to the ongoing partnership between the hospital and municipality. Thank you to the Township of Georgian Bay for helping us to provide exceptional care!... Read more...Kickstart Your Heart with $20,000 Match Gift!February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 – For the first two weeks of February, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is raising funds for defibrillators and crash carts, inspired by a $20,000 match gift from Conrad and Donna Huber. The ‘Kickstart Your Heart’ campaign has a goal to raise a total of $50,000 to purchase two crash carts equipped with defibrillators for GBGH. Crash carts allow the care teams to deliver critical medication and transport life-saving equipment to the site of a medical emergency quickly and efficiently within the hospital. After many years of use and replacements, the crash carts across the organization are no longer standardized, which is important when care team members from across the organization could be called to an emergency. By having the same carts throughout the hospital, it ensures all team members are trained on the same equipment which improves quality and safety. The defibrillators, which accompany the carts, are also at the end of life and must be replaced. The goal of Kickstart Your Heart is to purchase two new carts with defibrillators, but 11 new carts and defibrillators are needed, at a cost of $25,000 each. “Searching for an IV, suction catheter, defibrillator pads, airway equipment, or even gauze, really makes an already stressful environment even more stressful,” says Tyler Pilon, manager, ICU and Surgical Services, GBGH. “These precious minutes truly make a difference. Through the years, I have seen many life-saving stories and knowing that you can trust the equipment to function the way it was intended, and have everything readily available, truly makes the job easier.” The campaign was inspired by a generous match gift of $20,000 from Port Severn couple, Conrad and Donna Huber. They share a great love story, so a campaign to celebrate love, hearts and community was the ideal way to encourage others to join them in supporting GBGH. “We enjoy being together and doing things together,” share the Hubers. “We have been so fortunate in life and it makes us both happy to be able to give back to our community. It is our gift to each other.” Nine local businesses are also digging in to help raise funds for the campaign. Arbour’s Flower Shoppe, Splash Floral & Event Design, Pier 21 Restaurant, World Famous Dock Lunch, Phil’s Casual Dining, Phil’s Pub & Eatery, Georgian Bakery, Saturday Afternoons and Café Kittyhawk have committed a portion of Valentine’s Day sales, or a portion of sales from a particular Valentine’s item, to support GBGH. “This campaign is all about keeping hearts beating – in the hospital, with the purchase of critically important defibrillators, but also throughout the community,” shares Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation. “We are proud to recognize and elevate the businesses who continue to give back in the midst of their toughest times, and are excited to see the community come together to support them with love for Valentine’s Day.” Those interested can get involved by joining the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, supporting our local business partners, sharing posts on social media, and making a donation here. *Donations will be matched up to a total of $20,000.... Read more...An update from GBGH – January 2021January 30, 2021To say 2020 was an exceptionally challenging year for our hospital would be an understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic, and recent COVID outbreak at GBGH, has put incredible strain on our team of staff & credentialed staff, as well as our limited capital budget. A great deal of our time and resources in 2020 were dedicated to pandemic preparedness, response and recovery. The many challenges we faced served to make us a stronger team at GBGH and despite all the difficult times, there were some incredible things accomplished in our hospital over the past few months. The Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre continues to be a great partnership between GBGH, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre and the North Simcoe Family Health Team. More than 17,000 people have been swabbed since March 25, and in November, we began offering online appointment booking via the GBGH website in addition to telephone bookings. One of the most meaningful and historic highlights in the past few months was the immunization of our hospital team. In January 2021, the majority of our staff and credentialed staff received the COVID-19 vaccine. Our goal at GBGH is to always provide safe, exceptional care, so having the vaccine available to us this quickly brings hope and a much-needed morale boost to our team. In October, our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was designated as a Level 3 Basic facility, which is the second highest designation an ICU can receive in Ontario with the exception of specialty units (i.e. Coronary Care). For a community hospital like GBGH to have this designation is a testament to our commitment of providing exceptional critical care. We are very proud of this accomplishment and what it means for our patients who can receive comprehensive critical care services in our community. We also entered into a partnership with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) to offer echocardiograms at GBGH, and we anticipate, in the first year of the partnership, nearly 1,100 patients will be able to receive this service close to home. The service is now available to GBGH inpatients and patients from the community referred by a physician. Through it all, on behalf of the entire GBGH team of staff and credentialed staff, we appreciate all the messages of support we have received from the community. Your kind words and positive thoughts inspire us every day. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to a brighter year ahead. To send a message of support to the GBGH team, please click here.... Read more...Transformational Gift for GBGHJanuary 19, 2021Georgian Bay General Hospital receives single largest gift in North Simcoe from Marco Mancini and The Mancini Foundation to transform the care experience. Watch the full video announcement, including comments from Marco Mancini, local community members, and hospital leadership on the impact of this visionary partnership. A $5-million gift will provide critical funding to transform the care experience for thousands of patients at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) in Midland, ON. The Mancini Foundation is making this historic gift to address some of the highest priority projects for the hospital in the coming year. “I would like to thank Marco Mancini for this incredible investment in our vision of exceptional care, for every person, every time”, says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “The Mancini Foundation is lifting up our whole community with this extraordinary donation, providing our residents, patients and staff with hope and excitement for the future at GBGH.” A seasonal resident in Tiny for more than 20 years, Marco Mancini, has supported GBGH as the principal benefactor for local golf tournaments, contributing close to $1 million for critical equipment and enhancements to the surgical services at the hospital. His generosity over the years has inspired many local businesses and individuals to join him in investing in local healthcare, and his latest gift is no exception. “Our hospital is the heart of this community, and we all have a role to play in its future,” shares Mancini. “GBGH has cared for my family many times over the years, and I want to make sure they will be there for years to come. It was deeply important to me that amidst a global pandemic the ongoing needs outside of a COVID-19 response were still a top priority”. The investment will be made over the next few years, starting with the renovation of inpatient rooms; building a new café in the hospital’s main lobby; and helping with the electronic medical record project. GBGH and The Mancini Foundation will continue to work together to identify other priority projects that will positively impact patient care. Inpatient Room Renovations Includes 32 single patient rooms, 8 ward rooms and a 5 bed patient area. Café in the Lobby Providing staff and visitors with an inviting place for coffee & snacks, that also raises funds for equipment & education. Electronic Medical Record A multi-million dollar investment to transform the flow of information, reduce errors and improve efficiency. “Transformational change happens when visionary community members step up to make it possible”, says David Turner, chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “We are deeply grateful to The Mancini Foundation for their incredible leadership. Marco’s generosity continues to improve healthcare for all the residents of North Simcoe, and for every patient who will benefit from exceptional care at Georgian Bay General Hospital.” “As we look to the future of GBGH we know that this remarkable gift will have a profound impact on the hospital, the healthcare teams and the patients,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “We are so grateful to have Marco Mancini and The Mancini Foundation invest in these significant projects, and his hope, our hope, is that it will further inspire our community and seasonal community to stand with us and help accelerate our impact.” To join Marco in supporting your Georgian Bay General Hospital, you can make a donation using the form below, by using our Gift of Shares form, or by calling 705-526-GIVE (4483). ... Read more...#C02Monitors4GBGH raises $36,960 on GivingTuesdayDecember 7, 2020From left: Jennifer Lalonde, Lindsay MacDonald, Becky Rawn and Theresa Hartley, Ambulatory Care Team, Georgian Bay General Hospital. On Tuesday, December 1st, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation launched a GivingTuesday campaign to purchase 2 End Tidal C02 Monitors ($16,000 each). Used during routine procedures – such as a colonoscopy – the monitors ensure patients are breathing properly during an anesthetic. Thanks to more than 110 individual donors, and a matching gift of $10,000 from Nick & Marina Boudouris (owners of OPA Catering, the World Famous Dock Lunch, Pier 21 and operators of Restaurant Sainte-Marie), a total of $36,960 was raised in just 24 hours. “We are humbled by the continued generosity of our community,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “These monitors are so important for the peace of mind for our staff and patients, and we are grateful that so many people chose to positively impact local healthcare through this campaign.” The current vital signs monitors at GBGH are great for most situations in the hospital, but the specialty End Tidal C02 Monitors provide an increased level of safety. They alert the care team to any breathing complications so that they can intervene quickly. “As a recent surgical patient, it struck me how important this would be for patient and family assurance while you or your loved one is ‘under’,” shares donor Elyse Rousseau. “I would want this level of assurance for myself, my family and anyone else who has to undergo a surgical procedure, so that is what inspired me to donate.” While GivingTuesday is now over, those interested in supporting other critical needs at GBGH can make a gift to the GBGH Foundation holiday campaign. More information can be found here: https://gbghf.ca/holiday/ ... Read more...
