NEWS RELEASE
COLLINGWOOD GENERAL & MARINE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
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Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for continued support of their local hospital.
Since the beginning of this global pandemic, the South Georgian Bay community has answered CGMHF’s calls for assistance both with personal protective equipment and cash donations.
“To say the support has been overwhelming is an understatement,” says CGMH Foundation President & CEO, Jory Pritchard-Kerr. “Our fundraising focus had to quickly change from Diagnostic Imaging equipment to items specific to fighting COVID-19. We’ve had thousands of masks and gloves donated and even have dozens of local people sewing 300 reusable isolation gowns. Whenever there is a need, the full-time and part-time residents of South Georgian Bay respond generously and thoughtfully.”
COVID-19 related equipment purchases at CGMHF to date total over $850,000 and this total will continue to climb. This includes equipment to set up both “Green and Yellow” Emergency Departments (ED) to stream patients with COVID symptoms separately from those without symptoms; renovations to the ED and ICU rooms to create negative pressure airflow; additional sterilization and cleaning equipment; equipment to treat more patients in isolation; and equipping of a “field hospital” in case of over-capacity.
To date, the foundation has cash and pledges to the COVID-19 Response Fund totaling over $700,000 but continuing support is needed.
“At a time where our community is trying to find ways to support their hospital, we would like to clarify that the national fundraising campaign called The Frontline Fund does not provide support to CGMH,” says Pritchard-Kerr. “The Frontline Fund will benefit a group of larger hospitals across Canada that have banded together to raise funds nationally.”
“While the CGMH Foundation does not fit the criteria required to be part of The Frontline Fund, we wanted you to know that this does not mean we are not right beside all hospitals across the country fighting COVID-19. We are, and always have been a small, but mighty hospital because of the tremendous support our donors provide.”
To help fight the COVID-19 battle within South Georgian Bay, donors are encouraged to visit the CGMHF website directly at www.collingwoodhospital.ca , call the Foundation at 705-444-8645 or respond to the mailing being delivered across South Georgian Bay to honour our doctors and care providers.
The first $50,000 donated beginning April 22 will be matched by a local donor to double the impact. All donations made directly to CGMHF will remain in South Georgian Bay and be invested into healthcare for the local community.
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