Story Posted: 2024-07-16
St. Paul's Hospital Foundation Highlights 2023-24
From the St. Paul’s Hospital & SPH Foundation 2023-24 Annual Review.
BK Ultrasound and Anesthesia Ventilator Elevate Surgical Robot
In 2023, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation celebrated the 34th year of our signature event, the Mistletoe Charity Ball and Baskets. This year, the Mistletoe Ball and Baskets and the Christmas Dove Letter supported the purchase of a BK Ultrasound System and anesthesia ventilator to utilize alongside our new da Vinci Surgical Robot. The generous donors who responded to the Dove Letter had their kindness amplified by donor Ruby Dyck, who matched gifts received from the community up to $100,000 with her own phenomenally generous contribution towards the BK Ultrasound.
Highly-trained surgeons at St. Paul’s Hospital have been using the da Vinci Surgical Robot, “Daryl”, to perform minimally invasive surgeries since November of 2022, with outstanding results. The BK Ultrasound will expand the capabilities of the robot even further, providing real-time visualization of the targeted area during procedures and leading to even better patient outcomes.
Foundation Draws
Our Foundation Draws provide up to $150,000 annually to support improved care and services at St. Paul’s Hospital. Each year, Hospital employees submit requests to the Foundation for items to enhance patient care or Hospital programs. Thirty-four department requests were funded this past year, including wheelchairs for 6th Medicine, a work station for Health Information Services, portable stairs for Inter-Professional Practice and Physical Therapy, and a new Triage Treatment Chair that will increase patient privacy in the ER.
Love Cart
Thanks to the support of our community, Hospital Administration and Foundation employees have been wheeling a cart loaded with snacks and sundry items throughout Hospital units, distributing them to our wonderful staff as a token of appreciation for their hard work. Staff are very appreciative of the Love Cart, and we are very grateful for the generosity that enables us to show our staff just how thankful we are for all that they do!
Creating a Better Tomorrow through a Planned Gift
A bequest in your Will costs nothing during your lifetime, but provides a lasting legacy that helps to build a bright future for health care in this province. Thank you to our Spirit of Life donors and to those considering leaving a bequest to our Foundation; it is your pro-active vision that supports us as we look to a future where innovation in healthcare changes and saves lives. In 2023, Planned Giving provided a remarkable $872,631 to St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation.
You Are Our Angels!
Monthly donors are making a significant difference in the health and well-being of our community, and in advancing patient care. In 2023, the Circle of Angels programs raised $50,022 in monthly gifts from donors, staff and physicians. The security of continued support through monthly giving truly is a blessing, and that is why we call our monthly donors “Our Angels.”
Endowments
St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Endowments are a wonderful way to make a lasting contribution that provides a sustainable source of funding for various programs and initiatives. Donors can make a gift in support of an existing endowment or can set up a new Named Endowment with a minimum gift of $25,000. The principal of the gift is held in perpetuity and the interest earned is allocated to a program or need in the Hospital per the wishes of the donor. We are pleased to manage 20 named endowments that support a range of programs including kidney health, staff education, medical equipment, end-of-life care and other areas of greatest need. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors who have made these endowments possible.
Memorial, Honour and Tribute Gifts
We extend our gratitude to each of our generous donors who made a gift In Memory Of, In Tribute To or In Honour Of a particular person or event. Thank you to those who choose to honour their loved ones in such an impactful and compassionate way. In 2023, we received Memorial and In Honour/In Tribute Gifts totaling $227,112. For these, we are very grateful.
Gift Shop
St. Paul’s Hospital Gift Shop is operated by our Foundation, and provides an important service to patients, staff, and visitors. Gifts, clothing, snacks, daily essentials, lottery tickets and more are available for purchase. In 2023, business significantly increased to levels not seen since before the Covid-19 pandemic, with gross revenue reaching $191,746. All profits from the Gift Shop stay at St. Paul’s Hospital, with proceeds going toward staff professional development.