Pipestone Flyer
Guests gathered in the lobby of the Wetaskiwin Hospital on March 3rd, 2014 to witness the unveiling of a gleaming, new donor recognition wall and electronic donor recognition screen. “Now it’s all centralized in one nice area”, stated Chair of the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation, Murray Warnke. “That’s the way we want to honor all the people who have been so supportive of healthcare in this community.”
Over the years, feeling of compassion for others has been very evident at the Wetaskiwin Hospital. The new donor recognition system is one way the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation and Hospital staff thank donors. The recognition system showcases and honors the accumulative donation levels reached by companies, businesses, service clubs and individuals.
One group featured on the donor wall has been a loyal supporter of the Hospital since 1982. “The Wetaskiwin Health Care Auxiliary has worked alongside the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation to provide patient comfort items for residents of the hospital. All proceeds raised from the Gift Shop and fundraising activities are reinvested into the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre. At present the Auxiliary boasts a membership of 78 volunteers and has raised $308,900.”
Brenda Zilkie, Site Manager, Wetaskiwin Hospital when describing the generosity of donors stated, “Where do you start with that. The Foundation and community have been such great benefactors for us. Offering an extended level of healthcare would not be possible without the generous donations. We really appreciate all they do for us and can’t say thank you enough. The donations have enabled us to purchase some specialized equipment enabling the surgeons to do the best work they can. It’s exciting.”
Zilkie explains why ongoing support will be necessary. “With an aging population we see more seniors all the time, so this is a big focus for us. We have to stay on top of that and how can we improve our care that we provide to our community when we look at the number of seniors we are serving. We are looking at the utilization for our Hospital facilities and equipment, what will be required and how can we expand to accommodate the growing need for healthcare.”
The Wetaskiwin Health Foundation takes on a $325,000 challenge to fund a Family Room in Long Term Care.“By supporting the construction of a Family Room in Long Term care you are contributing to the quality of life for our Residents and their families. A Family Room for confidential conversations and private moments between family members will now be available to our Long Term Care Residents. This priority reflects the ongoing support and development of the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre as an outstanding community hospital.
As the Phase I fundraiser and project nears completion, the Foundation will begin a campaign for Phase II, Palliative Suite for Long Term Care.
There is an ever increasing number of deserving causes seeking financial support in Wetaskiwin. The Wetaskiwin Health Foundation sincerely appreciates the generosity of this community as reflected by the new donor recognition system. They are honored by the trust donors have placed in them throughout the years. The Foundation continually strives to make certain the gifts are used to directly benefit the individuals and families. To accomplish this, the Foundation continues to manage donations in any of several designated accounts and track the donation from time of arrival until utilized to strengthen healthcare.