THE ST. CATHARINES GENERAL HOSPITAL AUXILIARY CELEBRATES 146 YEARS WITH MOMENTOUS GIFT TO THE IT’S OUR TIME CAMPAIGN

John Bullivant (Founding President, SCGH Foundation); Marie Kordos; Sue Alexander (SCGH Auxiliary President); Sandra Sabo (COO, SCGH Foundation); and Marj Shiels proudly display the receipt for $1.2 million toward the It’s Our Time Campaign. As part of a long standing tradition, Mr. Bullivant dressed as the late Dr. Theophilus Mack to honour his memory and recognize his incredible contributions to the SCGH Auxiliary.

Niagara, ON (March 21, 2011) – As the St. Catharines General Hospital (SCGH) Auxiliary celebrated their incredible accomplishments over the past 146 years, members announced the single largest gift in their organization’s history… $1.2 million to the It’s Our Time Campaign. This significant contribution will support equipment purchases at the new Niagara Health System health-care complex scheduled to open to patients in spring 2013.

“The Niagara Health System relies on the St. Catharines General Hospital Auxiliary’s ongoing support and contributions to the patient care experience every single day,” said Anne Atkinson, NHS Vice-President Patient Services. “They are valued members of our health-care team, and we absolutely could not do the work that we do without them. On behalf of our patients and families, and the rest of the healthcare team, I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the Auxiliary for this very generous donation.”

The SCGH Auxiliary has a long and accomplished history. In 1865, seven visionary community-minded women met at the request of Dr. Theophilus Mack to form a committee to bring comfort and help to the sick and needy. This committee holds the distinction of being the first Hospital Auxiliary to be created in North America.

Starting in 1867 with their first fundraising bazaar, the Auxiliary has continued to hold fundraisers including teas, luncheons, bake sales, raffles, Bingo and golf tournaments resulting in an incredible $5.5 million for the purchase of patient care equipment for the General.

“We owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the 120 women and men who make up the Auxiliary,” said Sandra Sabo, SCGH Foundation Chief Operating Officer. “These women and men are not only committed to securing innovative equipment for our community hospital, they strive to bring cheer and smiles to patients daily whether it be knitting bonnets and booties for newborns or delivering Christmas stockings to our Palliative patients each year. Our community hospital is lucky to have the support of the SCGH Auxiliary. On behalf of the SCGH Foundation, I am honoured to wish the Auxiliary a very special happy 146th Birthday and many more years of success in fundraising and volunteering.”

“Through the commitment and dedication of past and present Auxiliary volunteers, we have been able to raise the fantastic sum of $1.2 million to benefit the new state-of-the-art health-care complex,” says Sue Alexander, President of the SCGH Auxiliary. “If you are interested in helping to ensure the future of the Auxiliary, please call 905-684-7271 x 44229 – we’d love to hear from you!”

In recognition of their $1.2 million donation to the It’s Our Time Campaign, the main interior corridor of the new health-care complex – or “Main Street”- will be named in honour of the SCGH Auxiliary.  As well, three other areas of the new facility will bear their name: the Infusion Bay Stretcher Area in the Walker Family Cancer Centre; a Family Quiet Room on the second floor of the Medical/Cardiology Unit; and the Quiet Room on the third floor in Palliative Care.

On behalf of the SCGH Foundation and the It’s Our Time Campaign team, we would like to extend heartfelt congratulations and great appreciation to the St. Catharines General Hospital Auxiliary on their tremendous achievements and unwavering dedication to improving healthcare in Niagara.   

CONGRATULATIONS ON CELEBRATING 146 YEARS OF VOLUNTEERISM AND FUNDRAISING SUCCESS!