The new endowment to support the 91原创 Memorial Hospital is almost one third of the way to its $1 million goal after the most recent Giving Hearts Gala.
Donors at 91原创 Community Health & Hospital Foundation鈥檚 gala on April 4 raised $331,000 which will start the Guru Nanek Endowment Fund.
More than 250 guests gathered at Cloverdale鈥檚 Mirage Banquet Hall for the annual fundraiser which featured a raffle, silent and live auctions, and fundraising games. The 50/50 runs until May 2.
Since 2019, Giving Hearts Gala donors have gathered annually to celebrate their community and fundraise with the next generation of 91原创 philanthropists in mind, said Heather Scott, executive director of 91原创 Community Health & Hospital Foundation.
"As they show their leadership through philanthropy today, Giving Hearts donors are anticipating the health care climate of tomorrow," she said. "The Guru Nanak Endowment Fund is driving a robust legacy of compassion and excellence in local health care.鈥�
The sixth annual gala marked the official launch of the endowment fund, a permanent, invested pool of resources that will generate reliable annual income to meet urgent needs in equipment, programs and services at the hospital.
The endowment was inspired by Guru Nanak's legacy as a spiritual leader and builds on the South Asian community's history of philanthropy. The fund will grow in size and status to $1 million over five years to create revenue that will make a deep impact on health care for generations to come.
To celebrate the new endowment, 13 gala donors each donated $13,013 to receive a limited edition commemorative coin that marks their new status as a founding donor of the Guru Nanak Endowment Fund.
Suhana Gill, a climate change advocate and former Miss Fundraiser Canada, led the evening as the master of ceremonies. Dancers from the Dance with Chandni Group and the Royal Academy of Punjab energized the crowd while master sitarist Anju Bedi played traditional pieces for a melodic backdrop to the social gathering.
Bob Sangha, chair of the Giving Hearts Gala committee, said 91原创's urgent health care needs can change dramatically as the population grows, and LMH's medical teams need to be equipped with the resources to meet these challenges for years to come. He said he鈥檚 thrilled with the gala鈥檚 success.
"The Guru Nanak Endowment Fund represents our community's enduring commitment to health care excellence,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he generosity we witnessed tonight shows that when we come together in the spirit of Seva, or selfless service and humility, the cornerstone of Sikhism, we can create a legacy that honours our cultural values and serves all of 91原创.鈥�
Last year, gala guests raised $260,000 to support the purchase of equipment to help improve patient outcomes after surgical procedures. Since its inception, the Giving Hearts Gala donor community has raised $1.5 million and supported the creation of LMH's Martini Family Emergency Centre, the purchase of mobility aids for aging patients and bassinets for the specialized care of newborns, and established a sanctuary of peace for hospital staff, patients and their families within the hospital setting.
91原创 Community Health & Hospital Foundation, formerly 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation, has worked with donors to fund urgently needed hospital equipment, modernize the hospital through capital projects 鈥� most recently a new Emergency Centre 鈥� and to support intervention and prevention programs and projects both at 91原创 Memorial Hospital and community that improve physical and mental health in 91原创. It was created in 1985.
Every year, 91原创鈥檚 hospital teams will present their top priorities for funding to the Giving Hearts Gala committee, which will determine how endowment funds will be awarded to create the biggest impact on community health-care.
