Over the past few years, Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation has contributed to funding the new CT Scanner at Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville as some residents in our area will need that service.
Recently, Valley Regional Hospital Foundation also supported SMH Foundation with a grant of $20,000. to help fund the purchase of new X-ray equipment for our hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging Department. Pictured above are Karen Theriault, CEO of Valley Regional Hospital Foundation, presenting the ‘cheque’ to Don Hyslop, Chair of Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation, and Michael Fairn, SMH Foundation’s Fund Development Coordinator. It is this spirit of cooperation that will go a long way to improving healthcare services throughout the Annapolis Valley.
Established in April of 1972, Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation funds equipment purchases for the hospital, supports seniors’ safety programs and other healthcare initiatives in Annapolis and Kings Counties, and leads the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare professionals in the eastern Annapolis and western Kings County area.
Over the past 52 years, the Foundation has raised millions of dollars to support local healthcare initiatives. One of its most ambitious projects was to raise $500,000 towards the construction of the $10 million Middleton & Area Family Health Centre. One of the keys to the success of that effort was hiring a professional fundraiser. Obviously, that strategy proved successful! The facility is complete and now houses 28 healthcare professionals.
Using this same strategy to help raise funds for the Foundation’s two current fundraising initiatives—the Diagnostic Imaging Campaign mentioned earlier and the rebuilding of the Veterans’ Patio adjacent to the hospital—led the Foundation’s Directors to promote Michael Fairn from his role as Administrative Assistant to the role of Fund Development Coordinator. Michael’s career in healthcare sales, marketing, and promotion and his experience in fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society, the Rotary Club of Middleton, and in other initiatives means he is ideally suited for this position.
The Diagnostic Imaging Campaign has a goal of raising $350,000. towards the total cost of $1.1 million, with the balance being contributed by NS Health. We embarked on a three-year campaign to raise that amount and we are more than two-thirds of the way to accomplishing that goal!
Our effort to raise the $202,000. cost of the Veterans’ Patio rebuilding project has just begun and will continue until December 2025. We are off to a good start and we welcome YOUR financial support on either of these projects! Cheques can be made payable to SMH Foundation and mailed to the Foundation at PO Box 730, Middleton, NS B0S 1P0. Note which fund you are donating to on the ‘note’ line on the cheque. Or, you can donate online at www.middletonsmhf.ca Choose which project you are contributing to on the drop-down menu. All donations will receive a tax receipt.
For further information on Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation, visit our website or Facebook page, call Michael at 902 825 9011, or email him at [email protected]