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Auxiliary gives health centre a $350,000 boost

Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre recently got a boost with a $350,000 contribution from the RVH Auxiliary - the latest installment in the Auxiliary’s $2 million pledge to the Hearts and Mind campaign
Auxiliary gift

NEWS RELEASE

ROYAL VICTORIA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE

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Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) recently got a boost with a $350,000 contribution from the RVH Auxiliary - the latest installment in the Auxiliary’s $2 million pledge to the Hearts and Mind campaign to develop an advanced cardiac care program and child and youth mental health inpatient program at RVH.

“Once again the RVH Auxiliary is leading the way with their generous support of advanced cardiac care and child and youth mental health,” says Janice Skot RVH president and CEO. “The Auxiliary is always the first to step up to the plate when the need arises, shown through a $5 million pledge to our expansion, a $1.5 million pledge to the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), and now this most recent pledge of $2 million. We are humbled and inspired by the Auxiliary’s ongoing support and ability to raise funds.”

The “Blue Brigade”, as the Auxiliary is affectionately known, plays a significant role not only in the improvement of patient care but is a second set of hands to assist RVH staff, performing duties such as transporting patients, providing directions to visitors and completing clerical tasks.

The Auxiliary also raises money through many of its fundraisers - Tag Days, vendor sales, Nevada lottery, and an annual bazaar, as well as through its two businesses - The Café Royale and Victoria’s Gift Shop.

“The RVH Auxiliary has a long history of supporting RVH, whether it is through raising money or its members volunteering in nearly every area of the health centre,” says Janice Williams, president, RVH Auxiliary. “Every member of the Auxiliary – and everyone who dons a blue vest to volunteer their time – truly feels part of the RVH team and we know the importance of supporting our health centre.”

These funds will be directed to developing an advanced cardiac care program and a child and youth mental health inpatient program at RVH.

Presently, neither of these services exist in Simcoe Muskoka and patients are often transported beyond the region to receive care.

RVH’s Hearts and Mind will fund the necessary equipment and tools for these programs as these costs are not provided by the provincial government and remain the responsibility of the health centre.

“I can’t stress enough the extraordinary difference the Auxiliary makes in our community, in our organization and, most especially, in the lives of our patients,” says Skot. “We are so fortunate at RVH to have such heartfelt support from the RVH Auxiliary. Not only do the members give the gift of time to assist in many different areas of the health centre, they raise funds to improve patient care, including this latest incredible donation.”

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Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) Auxiliary members gathered together to present their latest installment of $2 million to RVH’s Hearts and Minds campaign supporting the development of an advanced cardiac care program and child and youth mental health inpatient unit. Once the tallying was done, Janice Williams, president, RVH Auxiliary, presented Janice Skot, RVH president and CEO with a cheque for $350,000. Joining in with members of the Auxiliary for the photo are (front, from left) David McCullough, chair RVH Foundation; Crystal Bell, manager RVH Mental Health Inpatient and Crisis Services; Kirsten Parker, chair RVH Board of Directors; Janice Skot, RVH president and CEO; Janice Williams, president, RVH Auxiliary; Dr. Mohammad Haqqi, cardiologist, and Selma Mitchell, operations director, RVH Cardiovascular program.