What is the Foundation's role in patient care?
The Foundation has no direct role in patient care but we do play an important part in ensuring the G&M offers the best facilities and equipment for patient care. The Foundation's mission is to raise funds in support of the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital for equipment, furnishings, facilities and programs/services not funded by the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care. We fund capital equipment (over $1,000) and facility renovations & expansions at the G&M as well as some specialty programs and services not covered by Government (for example the Day Chaplaincy Program). The Foundation cannot (according to its by-laws) fund operational costs for the Hospital.

How does the Foundation operate?
The Foundation is a seperately incorporated charitable organization that operates independently of the Hospital. Although the Foundation employs four staff, most of our programs are volunteer driven. The ultimate responsibility for the Foundation lies with its 18 volunteer Board Members. The staff of the Foundation is responsible to the Foundation Board of Directors. All costs for staff, fundraising programs and public relations come from the Foundation's budget, not from the Hospital.

Who works for the Foundation?

Volunteer Board Members:
Janet Trude - Chair
Robbie Ross - Vice Chair
Charlie Tatham - Past Chair
Veronica Onyskiw - Treasurer
Linda Davis - Hospital CEO
Dr. Eric Goode - Medical Staff Rep.
Don Smith - appointed by Hospital
Shelley Wells - appointed by Hospital
Bill Sloan - appointed by Hospital
Walter Borthwick
Roger S. (Bud) Christensen - Chair of Major Gifts Committee
Paula Davidson
Pat Garner
David Lindsay - Chair of Special Projects Committee
Ernie Purkis- Chair of Planned Giving Committee
Kent Taylor
Ken Vogel

The Foundation also works with many other volunteers on committees and events.

Staff
Jory Pritchard-Kerr - Executive Director (Secretary of Board of Directors)
Anna Benedict - Co-ordinator, Annual Giving & Community Education
Linda Caron - Co-ordinator, Special Projects
Alison Sheffer - Administrative Assistant

How does the Foundation decide what it will buy?
The Foundation relies upon the Hospital's management, staff and physicians to determine exactly what the Hospital needs. Each year the Hospital undertakes a capital budgeting process, which identifies its equipment and facility needs. Each identified need is then ranked in order of priority. This list is provided to the Foundation and together, we negotiate how many of the priority items can be funded annually. The Foundation's primary role in this process is to operate fundraising programs that will meet the funding targets in any given year and to work with the Hospital to ensure our donor's money is spent on its intended use.

How much does the Foundation raise every year?
The total funds raised by the Foundation vary from year to year depending on the need of the Hospital. In some years, like 2000/01, the Foundation raised over $6 million in cash and pledges for Your Future Fund Campaign. This was a concentrated "capital campaign" to fund the CT scanner, bone density, mammography, echocardiography as well as $3 million for a complex continuing care addition and $1 million for a Community Education Endowment Fund. In 2008, the Foundation has budgeted to provide the Hospital with $1,100,000 for equipment.

What are endowment funds?
Endowment funds are donations that have been made to the Foundation with the express purpose of being "endowed" or invested with an annual payout of 5% to the Hospital. The Foundation has several endowment funds: Dr. Stephen Capital Fund - to fund replacement equipment Education Endowment Fund - to fund community education programs on health & wellness Steven Cerny Memorial Endowment - to fund new technology for the Emergency Department John Charles Gundy Rykert Family Endowment for Community Mental Health Services Susan & Bud Christensen Endowment - to fund Day Chaplaincy Service Andrew Faas Endowment for Community Education Shirley & Larry Reid Endowment for Dialysis Unit Harold K. Boylan Memorial Bursary Fund - grants bursaries to Hospital staff for continuing education Pat Bercovitch Memorial Bursary Fund - grants bursaries to Nursing staff for continuing education These funds are invested with a top rated investment company. Investment income from the fund(s) is paid out each year and the capital portion of the fund continues to grow each year.

How is the Foundation regulated?
The Foundation operates under regulations established by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) - formerly Revenue Canada - and is required to report annually to CRA on dollars raised, expenses and funds provided to the Hospital. Investment policies are regulated by the Public Trustees Act. The Foundation is audited annually and our audited financial statements are made available to the public. The Foundation belongs to the Canadian Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy and has adopted these associations' Donor Bill of Rights as our code of conduct.

Can donors decide where their money will be used?
Yes, donors can designate their donation to a certain department or piece of equipment. The Foundation, however, will not accept donations that are designated to items outside of the Hospital's current area of needs. For example, if a donor wished to make a donation to purchase an M.R.I., the Foundation could not accept the donation until such time as the Hospital had approved the operational funding and purchase of an M.R.I. In such a case, we would work with the donor to choose a different area of need. The Foundation or Hospital cannot reallocate designated funds without the prior consent of the donor.