NEWS

Strathroy Hospital Auxiliary Members Recognized

Dec 5 , 2008

The pledge gift of $400,000 to the Building Together Campaign is the largest in the Auxiliary's 94-year history. The Auxiliary has grown to well over 100 members and raises money through numerous different events and on-going projects throughout the year. 

Above: Susan McLean, SMGH Foundation CEO; Marg Hill and Nick Stokman, Directors SMGH Foundation; Yvonne Lambert, Past Chair MHA Board; Paul Long, MHA CFO; Stephanie VanderSchaaf, Auxiliary Secretary; Jane Cadman, Regional President Hospital Auxiliary Association of Ontario; and Carol Howarth Auxiliary President.

Strathroy Hospital Foundation is pleased to announce that the Hospital Auxiliary has completed their pledge to raise $400,000 for the Building Together Campaign, which began with phase 1 in 1999 and ended with the second phase in 2004. Hospital Auxiliary members were honoured by hospital leadership and the Foundation at their last dinner meeting for 2008.

The Building Together Campaign was a $15M building project where $7.5M was raised by the community for the re-development of the Emergency and Ambulatory Care Departments at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH). The project included a building expansion of 22,000 square feet and renovation of an existing 23,000 square feet. The building and renovation was key to update and expand facilities.

As a major medical centre for predominantly rural residents of Middlesex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent and Elgin counties, the hospital serves more than 80,000 people with 100,000 patient visits every year.

The Building Together Campaign was completed with the assistance of funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the work of SMGH Foundation and many of its volunteers including the Hospital Auxiliary.

“This special recognition expresses how thankful we are for the support from the Auxiliary and its members. They played an instrumental role during the campaign and inspired many others in the community to donate to the hospital,” says Susan McLean, SMGH Foundation CEO. “ Strathroy Hospital is indeed fortunate and grateful for their financial support.”

Volunteer members of the Auxiliary devote tens of thousands of hours staffing the hospital Gift Shop, greeting visitors and offering directions. In addition, members also run special fundraising events like the annual Tag Day in May, bake sales, selling HELPP tickets and much more.

“Your membership has accomplished an amazing feat in raising $400,000 for a very important transformational initiative. The ability to change and adapt started several years ago with the building together campaign. Since that time, services have improved with CT, bone mineral densitometry, new surgical procedures and regional digital imaging. Now, we are transforming into an acute care hospital with a strong focus on outpatient services,” said Paul Long, Chief Financial Officer of the Middlesex Hospital Alliance.

“Their charitable gift goes above and beyond anything the Auxiliary has done before,” Long added.

“Speaking on behalf of the Hospital's board, I think it's fair to say that we just can't thank the Auxiliary enough,” said Yvonne Lambert Past Chair, Middlesex Hospital Alliance Board of Directors.