Beyond the Glitches: An Inspiring Evening of Generosity
- mhancock17
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
On September 10, the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation was honoured to welcome more than 50 guests to our annual Report to Our Community. The evening was both inspiring and eventful—bringing together donors, hospital staff, board members, volunteers, local leaders, and friends to celebrate the incredible impact generosity is making on healthcare close to home.
A highlight of the night was offering another tour of our new MRI Suite for those who hadn’t yet had a chance to see it. Guests shared how beautiful and welcoming the space felt, but more importantly, how kind, supportive, and reassuring the staff were—especially for patients who may feel overwhelmed by the procedure. Others noted how the suite’s design enhances privacy for sensitive scans such as breast imaging.
The evening began just as planned, with Michelle Hancock, CEO of SMGH Foundation, welcoming guests. In her remarks, Michelle reminded everyone that “every gift has a name, a face, and a future” and handed out tissues before introducing Jessica’s story—a story of survival that, even with its joyful ending, still touches hearts.
When the moment came to debut Jessica’s video, technology threw us a curveball. Despite running flawlessly in testing all day, the video refused to play. With grace, the program continued: Board Chair Matt Bellia shared his reflections on the Foundation’s progress and thanked donors for their unwavering support. He noted that thanks to the community’s generosity, the Foundation raised more than $3.32 million in philanthropic revenue this past year, contributed over $3.1 million directly to SMGH for equipment and programs.
“These numbers represent more than dollars,” he said, “they represent lives touched, equipment purchased, and care transformed because of you.”
The team tried again to launch the video—still no luck—so we moved forward with remarks from Julie McBrien, MHA President & CEO, who highlighted the vital role SMGH plays in the continuum of care for our region and the hospital’s deep appreciation for the community’s support. “When our community rallies behind our hospital, it’s not just about funding equipment,” Julie shared. “It’s about giving patients comfort, dignity, and the very best chance at health care close to home. We couldn’t do this without you.”
Not wanting to diminish the hard work behind the video—or the significance of honouring Jessica and her family, who were in attendance—we encouraged guests to scan the QR code on the back of the printed report to watch it later.
Just as Michelle was wrapping up, the team gave the signal to try one more time. And this time… it worked! Perhaps a little anticlimactic, but still a powerful and moving moment for all.
The evening reminded us that while technology can falter, community never does. Thanks to the dedication of our MRI staff who led tours, and the generosity of donors who make this work possible, we were able to share last year’s accomplishments, highlight the future of care, and most importantly, share Jessica’s story.
It was a night filled with connection, gratitude, and hope—proof once again that your generosity is our purpose, and that purpose is saving lives.
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