York Central Hospital Foundation

Strides for Stroke 5K Walk/Run Promo Video

2012-02-29T10:35:00.001-08:00

Strides For Stroke Kick-Off Next Week!

2012-02-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

Community Rallies to Fund Rooms in Memory of Local Boy

2012-02-17T11:12:00.001-08:00

Yorkregion.com, February 22, 2012

This story appeared in the latest Heartbeat of our Community

Born with a genetic disorder, Zack Hamilton was a regular visitor to York Central Hospital. When he and his twin Jayden arrived on Sept. 21, 2007, doctors immediately diagnosed Zack with a congenital heart defect.

He spent the first few months of his life at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, where doctors repaired his heart and discovered a rare genetic disorder that is still unnamed and undiagnosed in any other child on record.

The disorder caused a host of physical ailments and developmental delays, including hearing and feeding issues and chronic pneumonia. This meant frequent stays at York Central during the winter months, says mom Heather Hamilton.

The nurses and doctors on the pediatric unit got to know the ins and outs of Zack’s complex medical condition, but also connected with the boy and his family on a more personal level, she says.

The nurses sang his favourite songs, brought toys their children had outgrown, accommodated family dinner nights and relieved Mrs. Hamilton so she could take time to shower.

“They took wonderful care of Zack,” she recalls “and great care of me too.” “He was a happy child,” says Mrs. Hamilton. “For all his obstacles, he was determined to get the most out of life.”

She describes his learning to climb stairs, his playfulness with his two brothers and a visit to Lionel’s Farm in Stouffville, when Zack, who couldn’t walk, steadied himself against the fence to feed and pet the animals.

Within days of Zack’s death in March 2011, Mrs. Hamilton received a call from

York Central.

The nurses who had cared for Zack knew the hospital was in the process of renovating children’s rooms and wanted to see one with a plaque bearing his name.

Immediately, Mrs. Hamilton agreed to lead the fundraising effort, but admits to feeling a little intimidated by the $25,000 price tag.

A plan was soon in place to make Zack’s Dream Room happen. With content provided by the family, the hospital foundation created a stand-alone website, linked to York Central’s, for the fundraising effort. It tells Zack’s story and features a video and many photos.

Mrs. Hamilton, who connects with hundreds of moms through Twitter and Facebook, began forwarding the link to her contacts, many of whom did the same. Social media exposure led to stories in traditional media such as CBC and the Liberal.

The donations began pouring in $25, $50 and $100 at a time. An event, hosted by Lionel’s Farm in June, brought in another $8,000. Soon, the fundraising team realized it could fund not one, but two rooms.

Tammy Bucci, major gifts officer at the foundation, says the site worked so well because people connected with the story and were able to quickly and easily contribute to the cause and receive a donation receipt.

“Zack’s is a very emotional and inspirational story,” she says. “It touched people on a personal level and their response was outstanding.”

“I’m amazed because it took a lot of people donating whatever they could to get to that goal,” Mrs. Hamilton says. “A lot of families wanted to support Zack and our family.”

An Elmo doll, actually bought as a Christmas gift for his brother, was Zack’s constant companion and a comfort during frequent medical procedures and hospital stays.

“Elmo and Zack were always together,” Mrs. Hamilton says, “that doll became like a sixth member of our family.”

Zack’s Dream Room will be decorated with an Elmo theme. Construction has begun and the room is expected to be complete in March.

To learn more about Zack Hamilton, visit Heather Hamilton’s blog at tjzmommy.blogspot.com. To learn more about the fundraising effort, visit zacksdreamroom.ychfoundation.ca.

Volunteers Celebrate 50 Years of Giving to Community

2012-02-17T11:11:00.001-08:00

Yorkregion.com, February 17, 2012

This story appeared in the latest Heartbeat of our Community

Volunteers are often the first people you meet upon entering York Central Hospital or one of its community locations.

On Jan. 30, the Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary of commitment to the organization and the community, with a reception honouring 50 years of giving. Even before York Central Hospital was open to its first patients, volunteers played a vital role.

For 50 years, women, men and teenagers have supported patients and staff, and have conducted fundraising events to enhance services at the hospital.

Our dedicated volunteers come from across southwest York Region including

Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Vaughan and King Township.

At the reception in January, hospital president and CEO Altaf Stationwala said, “Our volunteers have consistently demonstrated their dedication to providing the best service to the community. When asked to spread the word that a hospital was coming to Richmond Hill or sew bed sheets before its opening, our volunteers responded. Without our volunteers, York Central Hospital would not be the friendly and caring organization it is known to be.”

Dina Palozzi, chair of the hospital’s board of directors added, “I would like to thank all of the volunteers from the past, present and future, who help shape the volunteering commitment. Our volunteers are truly valued members of the health care team.”

Over the years, approximately 30,000 people have volunteered their time and talent, enhancing the hospital experience for countless patients and families. Currently, more than 900 volunteers offer their time by lending assistance in the hospital or by raising funds for much needed equipment.

To inquire about student or adult volunteer opportunities at York Central Hospital, contact volunteer and community resources at volunteers@yorkcentral.on.ca.

YCH Offers Advanced Sports Medicine

2012-02-16T11:06:00.001-08:00

YCH offers advanced sports medicine

Yorkregion.com, February 21, 2012

This story appeared in the latest Heartbeat of our Community

From weekend warriors to national competitors, injured athletes of all stripes are referred to Dr. Robert Wang, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery.

Dr. Wang completed his surgical residency at the University of Toronto before heading to the United States for training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. He then returned home to the GTA and joined the orthopedic surgery department at York Central Hospital in 2008.

Because of York Region’s growing population, Dr. Wang was able to quickly build a practice focusing on his specialties, which include arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopy is part of a general trend in surgery towards minimally invasive procedures. An arthroscope (a long, thin tube with a light and video camera) is inserted through a small incision into the interior of a joint to evaluate an injury; small surgical instruments can be inserted through a second incision to repair damage.

The advantages to this type of surgery versus traditional open surgery include shorter hospital stays, reduced scarring, less pain and faster healing. The latter can be particularly important to competitive athletes who want to get back in the game sooner.

Dr. Wang largely treats injuries to the shoulder, such as rotator cuff tears, dislocations or joint separations, and knee, including ligament tears, and injuries to the meniscus and cartilage. They can result from long-term wear and tear (such as a knee injury caused by decades of long-distance running) or traumatic injury (such as a dislocated shoulder resulting from a football tackle).

“A large percentage of my practice is treating athletes,” he says, adding they range in age from young adult on up and cover the whole spectrum of sport from recreational to competitive. “These are people who enjoy working out to stay fit and healthy.”

Dr. Wang recommends non-surgical treatment, which can include rest, physiotherapy and bracing, which is the starting point for many sports related injuries. For certain injuries or when non-surgical options have failed, he recommends surgery.

Pam Richards, manager of perioperative and surgical ambulatory services at

York Central, says demand for arthroscopy is growing, and to have a surgeon with Dr. Wang’s training at York Central is good for the hospital and its patients. “He has more specialized training than most sports medicine surgeons in Canada,” she says. “He uses the latest technology and ensures he stays at the forefront of the most current techniques and best practices.”

For example, Dr. Wang was one of only three North American surgeons chosen by the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine to participate in a training fellowship to Asia last fall. He visited the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand to meet, observe and share ideas with surgeons there.

Inspirational Gift - Lamanna Family

2012-02-13T12:06:00.000-08:00

On January 25, 2012, Joe & Lucy Lamanna and their family members were honoured at a recognition celebration at York Central Hospital. More than 30 guests attended the plaque unveiling and reception including York Central Hospital staff and physicians as well as Foundation staff and volunteers.

Their event celebrated the recent success of a charity golf tournament that they organized for Joe’s 70^th birthday. The event raised $55,000 towards the Urology Program at York Central Hospital.

They have also supported the Foundation’s Signature Events through sponsorships and donations. Their daughter, Lee Zanetti, is on the Foundation Board of Directors as well as a member of several volunteer committees.

Thank you Joe & Lucy for Caring to make a difference!

Host Your Own Friend-Raiser in Support of YCHF

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Looking to plan an event in support of York Central Hospital?

Our Special Events team has the tools you need to help plan your community event. Our Third Party Guide is a comprehensive, easy-to-use planner that can guide you in organizing your fundraiser, regardless of its size.

By planning a fundraising event benefiting York Central Hospital, you will be helping to raise awareness and improve health care in our community.

On April 7^th2011, Joseph Gulizia, President and CEO of UniversalCare and a Foundation Board Member, hosted the 2011 Universal Gala of Care which took place at Desserts Plus Ristorante in Vaughan.

It was a lovely evening with live and silent auctions and fabulous food which was enjoyed by over 110 guests. The proceeds from the event went towards the purchase of new medical equipment at York Central Hospital.

“Planning the Universal Gala of Care and contributing to the improvement of seniors’ health care services at our community hospital is very rewarding to me personally. As a volunteer of the Foundation Board and President & CEO of UniversalCare, which manages York Central Hospital’s Long Term Care beds, I am inspired to continue to raise funds for priority projects in support of this specialized patient population. Giving back to my local hospital in such a meaningful way is truly an honour and a great way to continue spreading awareness for York Central and all of the great work they do!” – Joseph Gulizia, President and CEO of UniversalCare

Contact Brian Mitchell at 905-883-1212 x 7807 to begin planning your fundraising event today!

2011 Moonlight & Magic Gala - Highlights Reel

2012-02-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

President's Corner - Let's Talk

2012-02-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today, I’ll be participating in a national conversation to break the stigma associated with mental illness.

The second annual Bell Let’s Talk Day is taking place nationwide.

The initiative seeks to break the often negative stigma associated with mental illness. In support of the event, Bell Canada will contribute five cents for every long distance call and text message its customers make to support mental health related programs across the country.

Olympian Clara Hughes will help kick off the conversation, which includes an online portal at http://bell.ca/letstalk. Visitors to the site can post their comments and questions while learning about mental illness and how they can begin their own conversations at home and in the workplace.

The event is part of the largest ever mental health initiative by a Canadian-corporation. The five-year $50 million Bell Mental Health Initiative was announced in September 2010 and focuses on 4 pillars: anti-stigma efforts, improving care and access, research support, and new workplace initiatives.

It’s important to recognize mental illness can affect anyone. It could be your neighbour, your family member, a friend or even yourself.

To help treat this patient population, York Central Hospital launched a pilot project at Alexander Mackenzie High School. From December 2011 to June 2012, an on-site mental health professional will be at the school one day a week to connect students with the appropriate resources and to also provide an immediate link to York Central Hospital, if necessary.

“The presence of the on-site mental health worker aims to reduce the stigma often associated with mental health as well as provide students with the information they may require in a comfortable and familiar environment,” says Donna Spevakow, Senior Project Manager & Operations Director of the Mental Health Program at York Central Hospital.

The project was made possible by the James Peek Memorial Golf Classic. The tournament was created to support mental health initiatives in honour of James Peek, who suffered from mental illness as a teenager. Since the first tournament 12 years ago, the James Peek Memorial Golf Classic has designated more than $250,000 towards the mental health program at York Central Hospital.

York Central Hospital offers many other Mental Health Inpatient and Outpatient services including a Psychiatric Inpatient Unit, Day Treatment Program, Day Hospital and Crisis Intervention Services, to name a few. Our dedicated team of mental health experts works hard to ensure those suffering from mental illness get the care they require.

To find out how you can help support mental health initiatives at York Central Hospital, please give me a call at 905-883-2032 or email bleacy@yorkcentral.on.ca

In the meantime, I hope you will join me in the conversation.

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

Third Party Event - Vaughan Mompreneur Showcase

2012-02-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

The Vaughan Mompreneur Showcase is taking place on March 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Paradise Banquet Hall. The event showcases the talents of local mom-owned businesses.

Proceeds from admission and the silent auction will go towards Zack's Dream Room at York Central Hospital. Visit www.vaughanmompreneurs.com for more details.

Zack's Dream Room Continues to Grow!

2012-01-31T10:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the incredible support of our community, the Hamilton family will be funding a SECOND paediatric room in their late son Zack’s honour.

Zack Hamilton was born with numerous health concerns and lived a short by meaningful life. He passed away on March 10, 2011 but not before leaving an incredible impact on the lives of so many.

Unit Secretary Sue Steel had the pleasure of meeting Zack and his amazing family several times during his short life, during his visits to York Central Hospital.

“Zack was a courageous loving boy with a bright twinkle in his eye. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him at work or at home. When Zackary passed away I wanted us (the Paediatric unit 5 east) to do something to remember Zackie by,” said Sue.

Zack’s Dream Room was born shortly afterwards.

“From that moment on, working with Zackie's incredible mom Heather, we started to fundraise. One of our very first events was a bake sale that we held at York Central Hospital that in a few hours raised over $900. I am so proud to have been part of this great journey of honouring Zack.”

To date, Heather and her family have raised more than $43,000 towards the paediatric refurbishment project and Zack’s Dream Room through online auctions, Twitter parties, events and through their customized website.

Because of their success, they have decided to continue raising funds to refurbish a second room at York Central Hospital.

“With the help of Zack’s brothers; Ty and Jayden, our vision for the second room is a wall featuring the favourite animals of our family: elephant, lion, hippo, cheetah and Zack’s favourite, the giraffe. The five animals will represent our family and allow us to all be together again on the walls at York Central,” said Heather.

Funds from Zack’s Dream Room events will also be used to provide the children and parents with the comforts of home; magazines, toys, toiletries, as well as arts and crafts supplies.

You can help support Zack’s Dream Room by visiting zacksdreamroom.ychfoundation.ca.

_______

York Central Hospital's six-bed Paediatric Unit is located in patient rooms that were built in 1973 and no longer meet the current standards of hospital room best practices.

This unit is in desperate need of refurbishment to address the distinct needs of hospitalized children, their caregivers and healthcare providers.

To help our young patients get the care they need, the Paediatric Unit will undergo a renovation to create a more home-like, comfortable environment.

Our new Paediatric Unit will feature six family-friendly rooms that provide increased infection control and privacy in an often stressful environment. Spacious rooms with ample windows will offer natural light to provide the ability to relax in a more comfortable setting. Improvements will include:

• Replacing the flooring
• Upgrading the bathrooms
• Equipping 4 of the rooms with cribs to accommodate our tiniest patients
• Repainting and installing new window treatments

Each room will have upgraded medical technology:

• Standardized patient pumps to deliver life-saving medicine and fluids
• Vital signs monitors to facilitate around-the-clock monitoring of patient conditions

Family plays an essential role in the healing process of children. We want family to feel welcome to participate in the care of their child, rather than feeling helpless or like an obstacle to our healthcare team. To acknowledge this collaboration of care, every room will offer:

• Comfortable sleeping accommodations for family members with a secure storage area
• In-room space to help parents manage home and work life during their child’s hospital stay

For further information on the project, please contact Luci Anderson, Director, Major Gifts (landerson@yorkcentral.on.ca) or Tammy Bucci, Major Gifts Officer (tbucci@yorkcentral.on.ca)

Volunteer Association Celebrates 50 Years of Giving Back!

2012-01-30T05:37:00.000-08:00

On January 30, 1962 in the midst of a blinding snow storm community minded residents of the town of Richmond Hill, met at the Lions Hall to discuss what they could offer to help the then-future hospital and its patients.

That night, the Volunteer Auxiliary (now called Volunteer Association) was born along with a lifelong commitment to giving for many community residents.

Fifty years later, volunteers continue to play a vital role at York Central Hospital.

Today, York Central Hospital hosted a special ceremony to celebrate 50 years of volunteering at York Central Hospital.

YCH Achieves Impressive Results - Year in Review

2012-01-26T08:16:00.000-08:00

Over the last two years, York Central Hospital has made tremendous progress in creating a great patient care experience and a healthy bottom line despite the challenges of caring for one of Canada's fastest growing communities.

Click here to see some of our recent achievements.

The Warm Up Starts Now - Strides For Stroke Is Fast Approaching!

2012-01-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year again.

For some of us, Strides For Stroke means dusting off those runners and checking to see if the jogging gear we carefully put away last fall still fits. For others, it’s an opportunity to continue our exercise routine in preparation for the summer season ahead. Whether you’re a new or experienced jogger or walker, let’s get active together for a great cause.

Join us and run or walk in support of the York Region District Stroke Centre at York Central Hospital Foundation’s 7^th Annual Richview Manor Strides for Stroke, being held May 5^th2012 at Richmond Green.

You can sign up for the 5K Run/Walk and bring your children (aged 12 and under) for the 1K Children’s Scamper.

Come out for an action packed morning beginning with a warm-up with a professional aerobics instructor, live music, a 5K route through beautiful scenery and great food and prizes at the end of the race.

Since 2006, this annual event has raised over $470,000, helping to fund state-of-the art medical equipment for York Central Hospital. Last year, more than 750 participants raised $125,000. Proceeds will be directed to the York Region District Stroke Centre located within York Central Hospital.

As the District Stroke Centre for York Region, York Central has a leadership role in ensuring that stroke patients have rapid access to diagnosis and treatment, appropriate rehabilitation, and long-term care services.

Your support of the Richview Manor Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk will directly contribute to funding an annual District Stroke Bursary which will enhance access to high quality education opportunities to York Central Hospital staff. This bursary will provide them with access to continuous, up-to-date knowledge on best practices to treat stroke patients. Proceeds from the event will also help fund life-saving equipment to support staff in delivering acute stroke treatment and prevention.

Take advantage of the early bird registration fee by registering today at www.yorkcentralrun.com.

Hurry – fees go up April 1, 2012!

You can join as an individual, or encourage your office and family members to participate and register as a team. Friendly competition is welcomed and encouraged, especially in support of such a great cause!

We invite you to contact Brian Mitchell at 905-883-1212 ext. 7807 or email at bmitchell@yorkcentral.on.ca should you have any questions.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the starting line!

Yrok Central Hospital's NICU Celebrates Its First Anniversary!

2012-01-10T10:03:00.000-08:00

York Central Hospital is celebrating the first anniversary of our new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The NICU was opened on December 14, 2010 and has expanded from six to twelve stations and can accommodate up to 13 babies. This means as operational funding increases, York Central's dedicated team of paediatric professionals will eventually have the capacity to care for twice as many of our tiniest and most vulnerable babies as the old unit. Each spacious care station was carefully designed and equipped specifically for infants needing special care and includes an isolette and physiological monitor, intravenous pumps, a bedside computer documentation system and phototherapy units.

The new NICU has the appropriate space allotment and design to more easily accommodate life-saving equipment and greater flexibility to deal with emergency situations. Now, mothers and other family members have more privacy at each station allowing them to spend more personal and quality time with their newest additions.

Ultimately, this leads to improved development for babies with challenges at birth and allows families in our community to remain close to home while their precious infant is in our care and take their babies home sooner.

Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, physicians and our incredible donors, including the project's largest donor, The Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital, who helped make this project a reality!

Thank you to the following donors for generously funding the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit:

Casino and Hold’em Poker Event 2009

Casino and Hold’em Poker Event 2010

CIBC Wood Gundy

Fabrizio and Nicole Cortellucci Family

Nancy Coxford

Fieldgate Developments

Manuel Fiuza and Vilma Cortellucci-Fiuza Family

G & L Group – Joe and Lucy Lamanna

Great-West Life Assurance Company

Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat Of Toronto

J.P. Bickell Foundation

Rose Mary Tomei-Kehren and Bill Kehren
Carl George Klees

Francis Verena Klees

Shirley Eleanor Klees

William John Klees

Wm. J. Klees & Son Ltd.

The Marin/Alves Family

McDonalds Restaurants - Stephen Forman

McDonalds Restaurants - Peter Miller

Elson and Joyce Miles

Montesano Family/Primont Homes

Fausto and Silvana Palombo and Family

Proud Partners Golf Classic 2010

Vincenzo Pulla’s 80th Birthday

r.a.p.t. in health luncheon 2011

Richmond Hill Christian Community Church

Ross and Nicole Ferrier and Family

The Schad Foundation

Shoppers Drug Mart Tree of Life Campaign

Marita Simbul-Lezon

TACC Construction Co. Ltd.

The Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital

ZZEN Group of Companies Limited.

Third Party Event: Apple Day Dental Clinic BBQ

2011-12-29T05:42:00.000-08:00

Dr. Alex Pister and his colleagues at Apple Day Dental Clinic held their second annual BBQ fundraiser in support of YCH this past fall.

The event has raised more than $700 in support of priority projects at York Central Hospital.

Thank you Dr. Pister and your team for Caring to make a difference™!

Job Posting - Major Gifts Assistant

2011-12-28T11:32:00.000-08:00

Major Gifts Assistant

Posted date: Dec 23, 2011
Closing date: Jan 23, 2012
LOCATION: Richmond Hill, Ontario

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, the Major Gifts Assistant works as part of the Major Gifts Team acting as the administrative assistant to the Major Gifts Director, Officer and Stewardship and Communications Coordinator responsible for maintaining moves in Raiser Edge, composing correspondence, researching prospective donors and preparing reports on donors, maintain calendars of proposal progress, due dates, gift agreements, recognition commitments and annual reports, assist with writing proposals, newsletters and annual reports, assist with fund-raising, recognition and stewardship events and mailings and writing and uploading website and social media content.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Maintain foundation, corporation and individual donor files in central filing system.
Create monthly fundraising reports and other RE reports as needed.
Continually update database with ‘moves’ and correct RE records.
Conduct research on prospective corporate, foundation and individual donors.
Assist in the preparation and writing of proposals, introductory letters and cover letters for prospects, donors and foundations.
Greets and assists all visitors to the Foundation office in a professional manner.
Coordinates and executes the ordering of office supplies on a weekly basis.
Update and maintain a recognition catalogue with available dedication spaces.
Assist with the implementation and maintenance of the central donor recognition system including RE entries, upgrade mailings and confirmation notices to all donors.
Handle all administrative details associated with the Major Gifts committee, prepare and distribute notices, agendas, materials, minutes etc.
Assist with writing thank you letters, stewardship reports, letters, and recording in Raiser’s Edge.
Assist with all recognition and stewardship events including: department/service/program opening celebrations, hospital tours, dedication spaces and annual recognition events.
Schedule hospital tours for visiting prospects for staff and committee members.
Coordinate the production, logistics and mailings of Major Gifts cultivation, acquisition, recognition & stewardship events.
Maintain guest lists, gather and prepare registration materials, speaking materials and other duties as assigned for Major Gift events.
Coordinate and maintain critical path for Family Giving Initiative launch and maintenance for YCH.
Assemble media and donor kits for events and meetings.
Update social media including Facebook, Twitter and corporate blog.
Other duties as assigned by the Director, Major Gifts.
Adhere to all approved policies and procedures for Foundation.

GENERAL DUTIES:

Reception of guests and visitors to the Foundation office.
Assist with answering calls to the Foundation line.
Provide regular status updates and reports to the Director of Major Gifts on matters and metrics related to donors.
Adhere to Occupational Health and Safety Legislation and York Central Hospital’s Health and Safety Policies.
Positively represents York Central Hospital Foundation in the community.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

EDUCATION REQUIRED:
Post-Secondary School diploma/degree or equivalent in a related field.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Minimum of 2 years employment experience in a not-for-profit development office.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS REQUIRED:

Ability to present information concisely and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
A congenial personality and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse group of donors, volunteers and staff.
Ability to work independently with little to no supervision.
Excellent written and verbal skills.
Ability to handle people and proprietary information with sensitivity, confidentiality and diplomacy.
Ability to organize and prioritize work.
Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, electronic mail/scheduling, internet.
Donor management software experience an asset (Raisers Edge).
Strong research skills.

Please forward all applications to: ahiggins@yorkcentral.on.ca.

Songs of the Season - Thank You!

2011-12-15T08:19:00.000-08:00

York Central Hospital Foundation’s inaugural Songs of the Season with Robert Pilon and Friends took place on December 9^th, 2011 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

Robert Pilon and his incredibly talented friends, including a choir made up of York Central Hospital physicians, provided a wonderful evening of entertainment for all of the more than 400 guests and sponsors.

Thank you to everyone who supported and attended this musical event. A special thank you to National Bank, Songs of the Season’s Presenting Sponsor and Lexus of Richmond Hill, the Automotive Presenting Sponsor.

All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will be designated towards the purchase of a state-of-the-art infusion pump system for York Central Hospital.

Inspirational Gift: Councillor Carmine Perrelli

2011-12-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

Richmond Hill Ward 2 Councillor Carmine Perrelli made an $18,500 donation to York Central Hospital Foundation last week.

The Councillor has committed to raising $25,000 to refurbish a paediatric room at York Central Hospital.

“There is nothing more important than health. And for a parent, there is nothing more important than the health of your kids,” he said to Richmond Hill Liberal reporter Adam McLean after the cheque presentation.

He will be raising the remaining $6,500 through a customized web page at councillorperrelli.ychfoundation.ca.

Thank you Councillor Perrelli for your donation and for Caring to make a difference!

For more information on how you can help improve care for the children in our community, please call the Foundation office at 905-883-2032 or email foundation@yorkcentral.on.ca.

PR: Songs of The Season is Tonight!

2011-12-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 9, 2011

ROBERT PILON, YCH PHYSICIANS TO SING AT HOSPITAL FUNDRAISER

“I am so pleased to participate in this exciting fundraiser which incorporates two of my passions: philanthropy and music,” said Robert Pilon. “Having partnered with York Central Hospital Foundation for several events, I know how important community support is to improving health care.”

In addition to Robert Pilon’s performance, a choir comprised of York Central Hospital physicians and staff will also be entertaining guests. The event’s Presenting Sponsor is National Bank and the automotive Presenting Sponsor is Lexus of Richmond Hill.

“We are so grateful to all of the supporters of this event, especially National Bank and Lexus of Richmond Hill. There are many people in our community who will require the use of our hospital’s services over the holidays. The funds raised through this event will help ensure all of the patients at York Central Hospital have access to state-of-the-art medical technology to assist in their speedy recovery both during the holidays and every day of the year,” said Bill Leacy, President & CEO, York Central Hospital Foundation.

All proceeds from this inaugural event will go towards the purchase of a standardized, state-of-the-art infusion pump system for York Central Hospital. This investment in a new pump system will increase patient safety by auto-programming medications, which in turn ensures the accurate dispensing of the right medications at the appropriate time.

Since the pumps are programmed to dispense the correct dosages, nurses and other staff caregivers will have more time to spend with their patients allowing for increased bedside attention and education. This extra one on-one time that the staff will spend with patients will help improve the overall care and patient experience at York Central Hospital.

- 30 -

Media Contacts:

Margo Sage-Arnold Alyshia Higgins

Manager, Special Events Coordinator, Stewardship & Communications

York Central Hospital Foundation York Central Hospital Foundation

Tel: (905) 883-1212 ext. 7803 Tel: (905) 883-1212 ext. 7810

Email: msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca Email: ahiggins@yorkcentral.on.ca

MIS Community Connection Segment - Rogers Television

2011-12-08T09:44:00.000-08:00

Last month, York Central Hospital Foundation had the privilege of collaborating with Rogers Television York Region to produce a segment for Community Connection on Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS).

The segment features MIS Surgeon Dr. Rohan Shahani, York Central Hospital Foundation President & CEO Bill Leacy and John Jenah, President of the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation. The Paul B. Helliwell Foundation was the lead donor in both of York Central Hospital’s MIS Suites.

Click here to view this educational segment.

Thank you to Rogers Television for allowing us the opportunity to showcase some of York Central's services to our community and recognize our incredible donors!

To find out how you can help support health care in our community, please email foundation@yorkcentral.on.ca or call 905-883-2032.

Media Advisory: Robert Pilon to Headline Hospital Fundraiser

2011-12-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release

December 2, 2011

Media Advisory

ROBERT PILON HEADLINING INAUGURAL

HOSPITAL FUNDRAISER

Richmond Hill, ON – The voice of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and The Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera, Robert Pilon, will be the lead performer in York Central Hospital Foundation’s Songs of the Season. The inaugural event is being held December 9 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. In addition to Robert Pilon’s performance, a choir comprised of York Central Hospital physicians and staff will also be entertaining guests. The event’s Presenting Sponsor is National Bank and the Automotive Presenting Sponsor is Lexus of Richmond Hill.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the purchase of a standardized, state-of-the-art infusion pump system for York Central Hospital. This investment in a new pump system will increase patient safety by auto-programming medications, which in turn ensures the accurate dispensing of the right medications at the appropriate time. Since the pumps are programmed to dispense the correct dosages, nurses and other staff caregivers will have more time to spend with their patients allowing for increased bedside attention and education. This extra one on-one time that the staff will spend with patients will help improve the overall care and patient experience at York Central Hospital.

Who: York Central Hospital Foundation

What: Songs of the Season with Robert Pilon and Friends

Where: Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts

10268 Yonge St.

Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B7

Phone: 905-787-8811

When: Friday, December 9, 2011

Time: 6:30 p.m.: V.I.P. Reception

8:00 p.m.: Show begins

Photo opportunities will be available during and after the event.

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Media Contacts:

Margo Sage-Arnold

Manager, Special Events

York Central Hospital Foundation

Tel: (905) 883-1212 ext. 7803

Email: msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca

Alyshia Higgins

Coordinator, Stewardship & Communications

York Central Hospital Foundation

Tel: (905) 883-1212 ext. 7810

Email: ahiggins@yorkcentral.on.ca

Press Release - Moonlight & Magic Gala Results

2011-11-16T11:40:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2011

ANNUAL GALA MOST SUCCESSFUL IN FOUNDATION’S HISTORY

Richmond Hill, ON – York Central Hospital Foundation’s 24^th annual gala has set two records: one for the most guests in attendance and one for the highest revenue. The sold-out Moonlight & Magic themed-event was attended by more than 1,000 guests and raised in excess of $570,000.

“The event was our most successful yet and we’re so pleased with the results,” said Julie Fuda, Chair of the Moonlight & Magic Gala. “None of this would have been possible without the support of the community, donors, sponsors and our gala volunteers. Their gifts of time, talent and donations helped to make this event the best in our 24-year history.”

The event was held at Le Parc Markham and emceed by Ken Shaw, one of Canada’s most recognized news anchors. Violinist Greenville Pinto and singer Christopher Dallo entertained guests during the cocktail hour and over dinner, followed by the George St. Kitts Band. The gala featured a live and silent auction and raffle with a top prize of a diamond necklace and earring set, appraised at $22,750. For the second consecutive year, the event’s Presenting Sponsor was Bell.

“We are sincerely appreciative to each and every person who helped make this gala our most successful in the Foundation’s history,” said Fraser Nelson, Chair of York Central Hospital Foundation. “This year, the Foundation has been challenged to raise $5 million to help fund medical equipment and technology at York Central Hospital. The generosity and support we received from our community for the Moonlight & Magic Gala has helped us come closer to realizing this goal.”

All proceeds from this year’s event will help fund a standardized, state-of-the-art infusion pump system for York Central Hospital. The new pump system will increase patient safety by auto-programming medications, which in turn ensures the accurate dispensing of the right medications. Since the pumps are programmed to dispense the correct dosages, nurses and other staff caregivers will have more time to spend with their patients allowing for increased bedside attention and education. This extra one on-one time will help improve the overall care and patient experience at York Central Hospital.

“On behalf of everyone at York Central Hospital, I would like to extend our appreciation to the community for their generous support. This exciting event has increased awareness in the community and enabled the hospital to purchase urgently needed medical equipment,” said Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, York Central Hospital.

The first Gala was held in 1988 and, since that time, the annual event has raised over $6 million for capital improvements and life-saving medical equipment in virtually every area of York Central Hospital. This includes a new Digital Mammography Unit for Breast Health, leading-edge surgical equipment, construction to triple the size of our Emergency Department, a state-of-the-art surgical sterilization unit and a Nuclear Medicine Camera with enhanced CT scanning abilities for York Central Hospital.

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Media Contact:

Margo Sage-Arnold Alyshia Higgins

Manager, Special Events Coordinator, Stewardship & Communications

York Central Hospital Foundation York Central Hospital Foundation

(905) 883-1212 ext. 7803 (905) 883-1212 ext. 7810

msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca ahiggins@yorkcentral.on.ca

President's Corner - Gala Wrap Up

2011-11-14T11:39:00.000-08:00

On Friday, November 4^th, a magical, record-breaking event took place: our 24^th annual gala.

The Moonlight & Magic themed-event, held at LeParc Markham, was filled with great music, delicious food, spectacular entertainment and a lot of inspirational support for our hospital, York Central.

Our gala broke not one, but two records this year: one for highest revenues at $571,000 and the other for the most guests in attendance. More than 1,000 guests, sponsors, volunteers and donors attended the sold-out event.

This year’s funds will go towards the purchase of a standardized, state-of-the-art infusion pump system for York Central Hospital. The new pump system increases patient safety by auto-programming medication dispensing. This allows nurses and other staff to provide more beside attention and education to our patients and their families. This, in turn, results in greater interaction and recovery planning, improving the overall patient experience. York Central Hospital is one of only three hospitals in the region that has this standardized pump system, which was a safety compliance rating of 99.6%.

The impact of this pump system are resounding: it frees up precious time for our staff to spend with their patients, it provides life-saving medications and pain relief to seven out of every 10 patients and importantly, one standardized pump system decreases the costs associated with having several systems throughout the hospital. It is through your generosity that this investment is possible and we are incredibly grateful.

As President & CEO of the Foundation, I’ve learned that as much as we try to inspire our donors, in fact, our donors are the ones who inspire us. It is so rewarding to see events like the Moonlight & Magic Gala come to life because of the generosity, support and dedication of volunteers, sponsors, donors and guests like each of you. We are especially thankful to Bell, who has been our generous Presenting Sponsor for the past two years.

An event of this magnitude takes hundreds of hours of planning from dedicated volunteers and donors. We are so fortunate to have such an incredible group of volunteers who have worked over the past year to ensure this gala’s success. Under the leadership of Gala Chair Julie Fuda, our volunteers have worked day and night, along with our Foundation staff, to collect auction items, set up the venue and ensure the finishing touches were in place. We cannot thank you, our volunteers and donors, enough for everything you have done for our Gala, and everything you continue to do moving forward.

York Central Hospital’s vision is to become the “finest community hospital in Canada”, and through your incredible generosity, we are well on our way to realizing this goal – thank you!

We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support of our hospital. Your gifts of time, talent and donations are truly making a difference in the lives of our grateful patients.

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

World Diabetes Day - November 14, 2011

2011-11-14T05:17:00.000-08:00

November 14 is World Diabetes Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of and funds for this disease. More than 9 million Canadians are affected by diabetes and thousands are right here in our region.

To help patients in our community manage this disease, York Central Hospital established a Diabetes Education Centre in 1992.

The goal of the centre is to provide adult pregnancy induced (gestational) and pre-diabetes patients, with the tools, support and education they need to self-manage their disease. Although the goal for each patient is the same, the way they get there can vary.

“Every patient is treated independently,” said Gillian Burley RN, one of 11 Diabetes Educators working in the centre. “Each patient’s program is tailored to their specific needs.”

The Diabetes Education Centre is staffed with Registered Nurses, Registered Dietitians, a coordinator and a visiting Chiropodist. All of the Educators are experts in diabetes education.

Patients can self-refer or can be referred to the centre by a health care provider. The centre offers comprehensive diabetes care including individual initial assessments with regular follow-ups to assist with monitoring and self management of blood sugars, medication adjustment, diet education, insulin pump therapy and a foot care clinic. More than 700 patients were seen through the centre last month alone.

In order to meet the needs of our diverse diabetes patients, the Diabetes Education Centre staff offers education in a variety of languages including English, French, Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian, Farsi, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi. Cooking classes are also part of the program and include sessions tailored towards several ethnic groups and taste preferences.

The Diabetes Education Centre is an important part of our hospital services and requires the support of our community.

Your generosity in helping to support this program will help ensure this dedicated team of diabetes experts has the equipment and technology they need to continue serving this specialized patient population.

To find out how you can support this program, please contact the Foundation office at 905-883-2032 or donate securely online at http://yorkcentral.on.ca/donate.htm.

Press Release: Ken Shaw To Emcee Sold-Out Gala Tonight

2011-11-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 4, 2011

KEN SHAW TO EMCEE SOLD-OUT GALA

Richmond Hill, ON – York Central Hospital Foundation’s 24^th annual gala is being emceed by Ken Shaw, one of Canada’s most recognized news anchors. More than 1,000 guests and volunteers are expected to attend the sold-out Moonlight & Magic themed event tonight.

“Over the past 12 months, the gala volunteers have dedicated hundreds of hours to planning this event and we’re thrilled the hard work has paid off,” said Julia Fuda, Chair of the Moonlight & Magic Gala. “We’re sincerely appreciative to everyone who has helped make the Moonlight & Magic Gala possible and we’re looking forward to our most successful event yet!”

The event is being held at Le Parc Markham tonight. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 8 p.m. Violinist Greenville Pinto will entertain guests during the cocktail hour, followed by the George St. Kitts Band. The gala features a live and silent auction and raffle with a top prize of a diamond necklace and earring set at an appraised value of $22,750. For the second consecutive year, the event’s Presenting Sponsor is Bell.

This year’s goal is to raise $600,000 towards the purchase of a standardized, state-of-the-art infusion pump system for York Central Hospital. This investment in a new pump system will increase patient safety by auto-programming medications, which in turn ensures the accurate dispensing of the right medications. Since the pumps are programmed to dispense the correct dosages, nurses and other staff caregivers will have more time to spend with their patients allowing for increased bedside attention and education. This extra one on-one time will help improve the overall care and patient experience at York Central Hospital.

The first Gala was held in 1988 and, since that time, the annual event has raised over $5.5 million for capital improvements and life-saving medical equipment in virtually every area of York Central Hospital. This includes a new Digital Mammography Unit for Breast Health, leading-edge surgical equipment, construction to triple the size of our Emergency Department, a state-of-the-art surgical sterilization unit and a Nuclear Medicine Camera with enhanced CT scanning abilities for York Central Hospital.

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Media Contacts:

Margo Sage-Arnold

Manager, Special Events

York Central Hospital Foundation

(905) 883-1212 ext. 7803

msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca

Alyshia Higgins

Coordinator, Stewardship & Communications

York Central Hospital Foundation

(905) 883-1212 ext. 7810

ahiggins@yorkcentral.on.ca

Third Party Event - Joy of Aging Raises $30K for YCH

2011-10-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 23^rd 2011, more than 350 women gathered at Copper Creek Golf Club to raise funds for York Central Hospital, learn about fitness and healthy aging and build new friendships at the Joy of Aging event.

The fundraiser was organized by financial advisors, Tina Tehranchian and Janine Purves and their team at the Richmond Hill Branch of Assante Capital Management Ltd. Ms. Tehranchian is also Board Member at York Central Hospital Foundation.

Tracy Moore, the host of CityLine on Citytv, hosted the third annual event. The morning started with the beautiful sounds of Dave McLaughlin's saxophone, followed by a speech by Vivian Risi, owner of Royal LePage Your Community Realty, Director of York Central Hospital Foundation and the Platinum Presenting Sponsor of the event. Ms. Risi spoke to the guests about her history of philanthropy and her special relationship with York Central Hospital.

Next, financial advisors, Tina Tehranchian and Janine Purves, also the Platinum Presenting Sponsors, delivered a fun and entertaining presentation about women and money followed by a money quiz.

Mysterion, the mind reader, dazzled and intrigued the audience with his ability to read minds. The keynote speaker, Susan Sommers, inspired the audience with her life story, recounting how she ran her first marathon at age 61 and her second at age 63, and offered useful tips for women on fitness and staying in shape. With the engaging and informative keynote speaker, fun activities, an energizing fitness break sponsored by Vive Pilates and interesting sponsor booths to visit, the morning proved to be enjoyable and entertaining for the attendees.

“We are thrilled with the end result of this event and are pleased to be able to support a worthy organization like York Central Hospital,” said Tina and Janine. “Our guests, sponsors and volunteers of the Joy of Aging are helping to make a difference for the patients at our community hospital.”

The event helped raise $30,000 that will be used to fund three new and state of-the-art intravenous infusion pumps for York Central.

Over the past three years, the Joy of Aging has raised more than $70,000 for York Central Hospital.

Consider Tribute Giving at Your Next Special Event

2011-10-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

Asking your guests to make a donation in lieu of gifts at weddings, holidays, birthdays, christenings and anniversary parties is a personal and meaningful way to support health care in our community. Your guests’ tax-deductible gifts can be designated to a program or area of your choice or towards funding our most urgent medical equipment needs - we will work with you to find the perfect fit.

You can also make a donation in honour of your guests. In appreciation for your meaningful gift you will receive customized cards that you can give to each of your guests, which outline your support to York Central Hospital.

To make a donation to York Central Hospital today, visit http://yorkcentral.on.ca/donate.htm
All donations $10 or greater will receive a charitable tax receipt.

For more information on Tribute Giving, please contact Kelly McDonald at ext. 7808.

Media Advisory - Ken Shaw to Emcee YCHF Gala

2011-10-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Media Contact:

Margo Sage-Arnold
Manager, Special Events
msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca
905-883-1212 ext. 7803

Inspirational Gift: Dalton & Shirley Hicks Urology Clinic

2011-09-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

On September 28, 2011, York Central Hospital Foundation celebrated the opening of the Dalton & Shirley Hicks Urology Clinic.

Donors, Hospital Staff, Foundation Board Members and Foundation staff attended the event to recognize the outstanding contribution of the Urology Clinic donors to our hospital.

We truly appreciate your commitment to our hospital and our grateful patients. Thank you for Caring to make a difference™!

Thank you to the following donors for generously funding the Dalton & Shirley Hicks Urology Clinic

Pasquale Caggianiello
John Di Poce Family
Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.
Dalton and Shirley Hicks
Joe and Lucy Lamanna & Family
Donald and Anna Little & Family
Ron and Marlene Lecompte
Proud Partners Golf Classic 2011
:

Signature Event: Songs of the Season

2011-09-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

Have you heard? York Central Hospital Foundation is hosting a new event this year: Songs of the Season with Robert Pilon and Friends.

All funds raised from the event will go towards standardizing infusion pumps hospital-wide.

Check out the details below:

Third Party Event - Salon Allure: Results

2011-09-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Employees at Salon Allure in Woodbridge recently held a fundraiser in support of York Central Hospital’s Oncology Program. The August 28 event was a great success, raising more than $2,000!

Thank you to all donors, clients and of course, the staff at Salon Allure for Caring to make a difference™.

Your support, generosity and commitment to improving health care for our community’s oncology patients is truly inspiring!

A New Way To Support Your Hospital

2011-09-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Exciting news: York Central Hospital Foundation has established a quick response (QR) code!

When scanned by a mobile device like an iPhone or BlackBerry, the user is taken right to our secure online giving webpage, allowing them to instantly make their gift.

This new way of donating is not meant to replace any current methods of giving, but instead provides our generous supporters with another safe, reliable donation option.

Donors can also continue to give safely and securely online at http://yorkcentral.on.ca/donate.htm or by calling the Foundation office at 905-883-2032.

Community Fundraiser: The Joy of Aging 2011

2011-09-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

President's Corner - Beginning of a New Season

2011-08-31T09:26:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to believe the last long weekend of the summer is beginning in a few short days. The past eight weeks seem to have flown by for us here at the Foundation!

As a new season starts, I am pleased to announce that our annual Report to Donors is hot off the press and will be mailed in the coming days. In it, you will find stories about the numerous projects that you have so generously helped to fund that are improving patient care as well as a list of the donors who have inspired us.

We are also extremely pleased to report we exceeded our revenue goal for the 2010/2011 fiscal year thanks to your incredibly commitment and dedication. As a result, we were able to fulfill our commitment to fund leading-edge technology and equipment throughout York Central Hospital.

Moving forward, we have several exciting challenges this year including funding standardized infusion pumps hospital-wide. These auto-programmed pumps deliver fluids, blood products and medications to patients in nearly every department of the hospital. Since they are programmed to dispense dosages at the appropriate times, nurses and other care givers can spend more time with patients and their family members, improving the overall quality of care.

Fundraising has already begun for this exciting project: the 2008 York Central Hospital Foundation Gala, Stardust Ball, raised more than $530,000 towards the purchase of the pumps.

Additionally, the Casino and Hold’em Poker Tournament, held on May 12, 2011, raised $133,000 towards the purchase of infusion pumps in the Nick & Rosanne Cortellucci Family Emergency Department. This annual event, hosted by Foundation Board Member Joseph Sgro, has raised nearly $300,000 for York Central Hospital’s priority projects over three years.

Lott & Company, Chartered Accountants also purchased an infusion pump in December 2010.

While many pumps have been generously funded, the need is still great. Our goal is to purchase 401 Symbiq infusion pumps and raise $1.2 million this year towards their purchase.

In addition to the pumps, we’re raising funds for life-saving medical equipment and technology including urogynaecology equipment in our newly opened Paul B. Helliwell Foundation Minimally Invasive Surgery Suite, an ultrasound machine, automated dispensing cabinets for medication, patient ceiling lifts for the recently renovated Intensive Care Unit and adult ventilators to name a few. All of these investments will have a dramatic impact on the care that is provided at York Central Hospital.

We look forward to continuing to partner with you and your family as we work towards helping York Central Hospital realize its vision of becoming the ‘finest community hospital in Canada’.

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

PS If you are interested in finding out more about any of our priority projects, please feel free to give me a call at 905-883-2032.

Mock Surgery

2011-08-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Last night, a Mock Surgery event was held in the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation Minimally Invasive Surgery Suite.

Dr. Rohan Shahani, a Minimally Invasive and General Urologic Surgeon at York Central Hospital along with Pam Richards, Manager, Surgery Program at York Central Hospital, provided guests with an informative and interactive evening. Sally Rogers, Operations Director, Surgery and Woman & Children Program also attended the event and provided assistance.

Guests were invited to try the surgical equipment, which is a sample of the equipment used to suture patients in the operating room. Dr. Shahani made the demonstration seem easy but everyone was surprised to learn it was much harder than it looked when they each took a turn!

Equipment for the demonstration was generously provided by Jim Dean of Johnson & Johnson.

All of the guests asked great questions and enjoyed refreshments after the demonstration.

A very special thank you to Dr. Rohan Shahani and Pam Richards for their interactive demonstration and for providing our guests with informative answers to their questions. We sincerely appreciate your gifts of time and talent and look forward to the next Mock Surgery event!

Volunteer Association Event - Diamonds and Denim

2011-08-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

When: Saturday, September 24, 2011
            6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where: Hilton Garden Inn, Vaughan
Dress:   Diamonds & Demin or Business Casual

For tickets and more information, please contact Yvonne Rowan, Committee Chair at 416.948.0841 or yvonne.rowan@yahoo.ca

Third Party Event - Salon Allure Fundraiser in Support of YCH

2011-08-10T12:03:00.000-07:00

Press Release - York Central Hospital Receives Approval to Build New Hospital in Vaughan

2011-07-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release:

Thursday July 21, 2011

Media Release

York Central Hospital Receives Approval to Build

New Hospital in Vaughan

Vaughan, ON. – Today it was announced that York Central Hospital has been approved to build a new hospital in Vaughan. The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care made the announcement alongside Greg Sorbara, MPP for Vaughan.

Today’s announcement confirms the approval of a new hospital for Vaughan in the provincial infrastructure plan. Under the leadership of York Central Hospital, the new hospital in Vaughan will be publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. The new hospital in Vaughan will be part of York Central Hospital’s two-hospital model for health care services and will ensure people living in the rapidly growing communities of Southwest York Region, including Vaughan and Richmond Hill, have access to high quality, state-of-the-art health care, closer to home.

This announcement follows York Central Hospital’s project milestone in April, when its Stage 1 Proposal was delivered to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of the government’s capital planning process. The proposal outlined York Central’s plans to create a Major Regional Health System for Southwest York Region, with a new hospital in Vaughan at Jane and Major Mackenzie as well as further development at the existing York Central Hospital on

Trench Street

in Richmond Hill. The hospitals would also operate alongside community-based locations and will be linked to a regional network of providers.

Planning is underway for a new hospital in Vaughan that will offer:

· A state-of the art Emergency Department

· New Modern Surgical Services and Operating Rooms;

· Access to Acute Inpatient and Intensive Care Beds;

· Technologically Advanced Diagnostic Imaging;

· Specialized Ambulatory Clinics;

· 80 per cent single acute care patient rooms for superior infection prevention and control; and,

· A flexible design to permit adaptation over time as new thinking and best practices emerge.

The new hospital will be enabled by an efficient organizational structure with a single governance, administration and medical staff as part of the two-hospital model. York Central Hospital is currently undergoing a rebranding exercise to represent our expanded mandate as a new major regional health system.

Quotes

“We are working with our community to develop a new brand for York Central Hospital that will better communicate our expanded mandate to create a Major Regional Health System including the building of

a new hospital in Vaughan and further development of the existing Richmond Hill hospital site,” said Dina Palozzi, Chair, York Central Hospital Board of Directors.

“I am delighted to have the government’s support for our vision of creating a Major Regional Health System by approving our organization to build a new hospital in Vaughan. The new hospital will benefit the citizens of Vaughan and all of Southwest York Region,” said Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO of York Central Hospital.

“Achieving our hospital approval is an extremely important milestone for our community. This much-needed investment will improve local access to quality health care for our residents. I'd like to thank the people of our community, the City of Vaughan, and the many devoted volunteers who have contributed so much of their time and energy to our hospital project. While we still have important work to do, today's announcement gives us reason to celebrate what we have worked so hard to achieve."
- Greg Sorbara, MPP, Vaughan

“I know how important this new hospital is to the people of Vaughan and I’m proud to see it move forward. For Vaughan and area-residents, new hospital services not only mean faster and easier access to high quality health care services much closer to home, but also greater peace of mind.”

- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“I want to thank the province for taking this important step and thank the community for its unwavering support of our goal to build a hospital in the City of Vaughan. Today’s announcement is an example of how different levels of government can work together with the community to improve health care services in our city. I want to personally thank everyone involved in this process for their hard work, commitment and dedication. In the coming months and years, discipline, cooperation and focus will be required to bring this project to fruition. The City of Vaughan and its citizens are up to the task. Today's announcement is great news for Vaughan!"

-Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor, City of Vaughan

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Media Contact:

Elizabeth Barnett Melina Cormier

Consultant, Communications and Public Affairs Chief, Communications and Public Affairs

York Central Hospital York Central Hospital

Tel. (905) 883-1212 ext. 7490 Tel. (905) 883-1212 ext. 7492

E-mail: ebarnett@yorkcentral.on.ca E-mail: mcormier@yorkcentral.on.ca

Job Posting - Special Events Coordinator

2011-06-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

York Central Hospital Foundation

Job Description

Job Title: Special Events Coordinator

Department: Foundation

Reports to: Manager, Special Events

Job Classification: Full-time Position

Start Date: September, 2011

York Central Hospital Foundation’s Mission: We inspire inspirational gifts.

York Central Hospital Foundation was established in 1977 to raise funds for equipment and capital improvements that will positively impact patient care at York Central Hospital. Although operating costs are largely funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, a significant portion of the money required for state-of-the-art equipment, technology and facility renewal is raised in our community through generous donors.

York Central Hospital’s Mission: We reach out – with expert and compassionate care.

For more than 46 years, York Central has been a provider of increasingly progressive and innovative health care services to our community. As the health care system changes to better meet the needs of those it serves, York Central Hospital will continue to be there. York Central Hospital will be there to lead change in the way that many health care service providers work with each other; to lead change in its unique and comprehensive range of services; and to lead change in providing more services “closer to home.”

The Position: Special Events Coordinator

This position will provide support for all special events as well as supporting the Foundation’s Community Gifts Committee. This position will also provide support to the Development team as needed, including preparing correspondence, assisting in maintaining accurate donor records and preparing promotional materials for meetings and events.

Specific Responsibilities:

* Support Special Events Manager, volunteers, and others on signature events

* Provide support for the Community Gifts Committee, including attending meetings, taking notes and circulating minutes to all committee members

* Participate on Foundation Facts Committee and prepare articles to ensure that all special events and community events receive proper recognition

* Represent Foundation at all community events/third party events

* Coordination of event mailings including sponsorship packages, event thank you letters and all other required materials

* Coordination of silent auction for Golf & Gala. Communicate with auction chairs and committee members. Catalogue auction items and oversee that the Development Assistant properly enters auction items into RE

* Coordination of volunteers for signature events

* Develop and maintain web sites for signature events/community events

* Update all special event information on Foundation social media applications

* Monitor Foundation general email account - foundation@yorkcentral.on.ca

* Assist with the development and preparation of event print material (programs, newspaper ads, etc.)

* Assist in the coordination of services and permits for special events

* Coordinate room set-up and catering for event meetings/events at YCH

* Create audio visual presentations for all signature events

* Ensure effective records management of confidential files

* Such further and other duties as needed

Education and Qualifications Required:

* University Degree/College Diploma with a minimum of two years related experience in a professional environment

* Proficiency in Microsoft Office

* Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge Program

* HTML experience

* Minimum of 2 years experience in special event fundraising

* Possess the ability to plan, organize and prioritize work, while handling multiple tasks and interruptions with poise and patience

* Display effective writing skills, especially in the area of correspondence and report writing

* Demonstrate the ability to work both collaboratively within a team and independently with minimal supervision

* Strong interpersonal and public relations skills

* The ability of handle matters of a sensitive and confidential nature.

Please forward CV’s to Margo Sage-Arnold at msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca

* Please reference the job title “Special Events Coordinator” in the subject line of your e-mail

We thank you for your interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Special Announcement - Songs of the Season

2011-06-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Inspirational Gift - CIBC

2011-06-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

Some of York region’s smallest patients got a special boost from CIBC as the bank donated $25,000 to York Central Hospital Foundation in support of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The donation was presented by CIBC Wood Gundy employees at 123 Commerce Valley Drive in York Region in celebration of their 10^th anniversary serving clients in the community today.

“We’re honoured CIBC has chosen to invest in the health of people in Southwest York Region, and specifically, York Central Hospital’s smallest patients,” said Mr. Leacy. “Our new, state-of-the-art NICU is the most advanced in the region and this incredible gift will go a long way in ensuring our expert team of Neonatal specialists has the equipment they require to care for our youngest and smallest patients.”

The newly renovated and expanded unit, which opened in December, increased from six to eight care stations with the capacity to accommodate up to 13 babies. The new stations offer more space and added privacy and are equipped with an isolette and physiological monitor, intravenous pumps, bedside computer documentation systems and phototherapy units. There is also direct access from the unit to the existing Neonatal Resuscitation Unit and the Caesarean Section Operating Rooms.

"For the past decade, CIBC Wood Gundy has been delighted to serve as part of this community and we are proud to continue that commitment with this $25,000 donation along with the opening of CIBC’s Private Wealth Management branch,” said Monique Gravel, Managing Director and Head of CIBC Wood Gundy. “In addition to serving the financial needs of our clients, CIBC’s donation today is a testament to our involvement in the health and well-being of our communities, and in particular in helping to provide life-saving equipment for some of the youngest and tiniest patients across York Region.”

Last year, York Central Hospital welcomed over 2,800 babies; on average, 13% or 364 of these infants required specialized care.

“We’re truly thankful to our friends at CIBC. It is through the generosity of donors like them that we are continually able to provide funding to purchase life-saving and state-of-the-art medical equipment to treat all of the patients who walk through York Central’s doors,” said Mr. Leacy.

From L to R: Gary Whitfield, Managing Director and Head, CIBC Private Wealth Management, Monique Gravel, Managing Director and Head CIBC Wood Gundy, Ted Langdon, Vice President & Senior Investment Advisor, CIBC Wood Gundy, Dr. Gerald Friedman, Chief, Department of Paediatrics and Medical Director, Woman & Child program, York Central Hospital, Bill Leacy, President & CEO, York Central Hospital Foundation and Mark Roccatani, Associate Vice President, Greater Toronto Private Wealth Management, CIBC.

Strides for Stroke Wrap Up Article

2011-06-07T06:02:00.000-07:00

Strides for Stroke record-breaking event for foundation

Record fundraiser. The sixth annual Richview Manor Strides for Stroke raised a record $125,000 for the York Region District Stroke Centre. Mike Cheliak Photo

York Central Hospital Foundation’s sixth annual Richview Manor Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk raised an all-time high of $125,000 for the York Region District Stroke Centre, exceeding its original goal of $75,000.
“There were many athletes of all abilities at Strides for Stroke, but the true winners of this event are the patients of the York Region District Stroke Centre,” said Joseph Gulizia, chair of the Strides for Stroke committee and a foundation board member.
More than 700 participants, the largest number in history, attended the May 7 event held at Richmond Green in Richmond Hill. The event included a 1K Scamper for children under 12, 1K Hip Hip Hooray race for York Central Hospital’s orthopaedic patients and 5K run/walk.
Participants enjoyed post-race massages courtesy of Hillsview Massage and Therapy Centre and walked through the health fair, which featured several local businesses and organizations. The event’s proud naming sponsor for the second year in a row was Richview Manor, a 137-bed retirement home located on Eagles Nest Golf Club. The retirement home is scheduled to open November 2011. TD Canada Trust and Freedom 55 Financial also provided outstanding support to the event again by registering corporate teams and raising $27,000 and $12,000 respectively.
“We cannot thank the sponsors, volunteers, donors and participants enough for their outstanding support and commitment to the patients of the York Region District Stroke Centre,” said Mr. Gulizia. “A lot of effort went into planning this event and we couldn’t have asked for a better result.”
Dr. Vince Basile, a neurologist and medical director of the York Region District Stroke Centre at York Central Hospital, said funds raised from the event will have a dramatic impact on patient care.
“We try to go above and beyond the standard quality of care for patients and Strides for Stroke certainly helps us in achieving that goal,” he said.
Funds raised will go towards the purchase of vital equipment and technology including computer software that will help to rapidly identify the extent of damaged brain areas affected by a stroke. Rehabilitation software purchased will help patients regain functions previously lost or damaged from stroke including speech and mobility. The funds will also help to purchase rehabilitation equipment, fund educational opportunities for staff to enhance their knowledge and skills as well as increase access to care.
The centre provides the entire spectrum of stroke care from acute stroke reversal to stroke prevention and community reintegration. Last year, more than 750 patients were seen through the centre either as inpatients or outpatients.
“We have physician specialists in neurology, vascular surgery, intensive care, internal medicine and anti-coagulation, as well as speech language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists and a number of other allied health professionals that help to rehabilitate our patients,” said Dr. Basile. “We provide all of the care that is necessary to treat and prevent stroke symptoms right here at York Central Hospital.”
Dr. Basile noted that although the stroke centre often provides life-saving care and support to stroke patients and their families, there is something that patients can do to help themselves or loved ones further.
“If anyone has symptoms of a stroke, we encourage them to get to a hospital as fast as possible,” he said. “There’s a lot we can do to restore patients back to their normal function if they get to us within 4-1/2 hours from the onset of their symptoms. The faster patients get to us, the less potential there is for permanent brain damage. After this crucial time window the focus of care is rehabilitation and prevention.”

Save The Date! The seventh annual Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk has been booked for Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Richmond Green.

Originally published in The Liberal. Visit http://www.yorkregion.com/community/health/article/1017451--strides-for-stroke-record-breaking-event-for-foundation

Zack's Dream Room Is In The Liberal!

2011-06-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

In addition to being featured in the Toronto Star and on CBC, Zack's Dream Room has also been showcased in our local media. Take a peek at the article below, published in the Liberal. The original link is at the bottom of the page.

By Kim Zarzour
Jun 06, 2011 - 11:20 AM

Boy’s spirit inspires room in pediatric ward

Fundraiser for Zack. Zack Hamilton at his favourite place, Lionel’s Farm, that will host a special event June 25 in memory of the young boy and to fundraise for hospital comforts for parents.

Whenever little Zackie Hamilton developed the hacking cough and spiking fever, his mother knew just what to do. She had it down to a routine.
First, Heather Hamilton would pack the tote bags with her essentials and his: cuddly clothes for Zack, skin creams that would bring familiar smells and his usual toddler comforters, flip flops for her so she wouldn’t have to tromp around the hospital for days in her boots, her contact lenses, toothbrushes, body spray, a journal to write in, books, magazines and her laptop.
Then she’d fill a grocery bag with Zack’s favourite toys. Next came the cooler bag with ice pack for his medications.
All this she could do in 10 minutes or less before zipping down Bathurst Street to York Central Hospital.
That’s what happens when you’re bound for hospital four times a winter for the first three years of your son’s life.
Sometimes she wished she’d never have to pack another bag for hospital again.
Now, she says, she’d give anything to pack, give anything “to stay in a crappy bed with beeping machines all night” if only it meant more time with him.
Zack passed away March 10 at the age of three-and-a-half, but his spirit lives on in the pediatric floor in the hospital where he spent so many of his days. Soon, Zack’s name will live on in a more tangible way.
The Hamilton family is planning to create a special place for families when sickness or injury brings them to the Richmond Hill hospital.
Zack’s Dream Room will be a cozy spot in the pediatric unit, a room with the comforts of home for mom or dad and the familiarity of Sesame Street’s Elmo, Zack’s favourite, for young patients.
“Nothing could mean more to us than to give back to the place that cared so much for Zack and myself during those stays in hospital,” Ms Hamilton says.
The Richmond Hill mom became a bit of a reluctant expert in hospital stays, something she never expected when she gave birth to Zack and his twin brother Jayden on Sept. 21, 2007.
As he tumbled out into the world on the heels of his slightly older twin, his parents noticed he looked a little different. His eyes were abnormal, his ears slightly slanted, fists clenched tight and body covered in bruises. Within half an hour after birth, doctors had assessed he had a heart defect and he was whisked away for special care.
They eventually learned Zack had been born with a genetic disorder causing serious health and developmental issues including a congenital heart defect and blocked pulmonary vein, seizures, global developmental delay, facial anomalies, hydrocephalus (fluid and a cyst in his brain), low muscle tone, reflux, bilateral moderate to severe hearing loss and an inability to drink liquids.
They were told their son would likely not walk, might not talk, might not ever eat without feeding tubes. They were told he might never survive.
Zack’s life became one hurdle, and miracle, after the next as he fought to maintain his precarious hold on life, but when he got his G-tube, a medical device used to provide nutrition, he seemed to turn the corner.
Suddenly his eyes lit with energy, he was mobile, alert, and last November he learned to walk.
All day long he toddled back and forth through the house, humming, babbling and giggling, climbing on furniture, pulling books off shelves, playing his drums and raiding the Fruit Loops box in the kitchen cupboard.
Sure, he was sick a lot and spent much of every winter on antibiotics in York Central’s pediatric unit, (the staff in the Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic loved visiting their favorite “frequent flyer”), but in between, times were good.
He even managed, one day, to feed himself “real” food — a cheesie. Heather remembers sitting on the kitchen floor with him, watching him bring the orange crumbliness to his mouth and the tears pouring down her face in gratitude.
Last summer, she watched him turn into a “real big boy” at Lionel’s Farm in Stouffville, climbing out of his stroller to stand on his own, gripping the wire fence as he pet the animals alongside his brothers. The family returned to the farm weekly after that, celebrating Zack’s growing independence with photographs and smiles.
However, pneumonia and flu brought Zack to the hospital again in March, where he died of lack of oxygen to the brain during cardiac arrest.
Lionel’s Farm provided the horse-and-buggy hearse to carry Zack’s body to his final resting place. The farm will also be the venue this month for a big fundraising event to help raise money in his name for York Central Hospital.
“The farm was such an important part of their family and his life, as short as it was,” says manager Blair Purcell who has donated the facility for the day.
“When you’ve given pleasure to someone it can be so gratifying and meaningful. It is humbling and you want to help back.”
Zack’s Family Dream Day, set for Saturday, June 25, was to be the major fundraiser for the Hamiltons’ drive to make a comfortable home-away-from-home for families at York Central, but within two months of setting up the charity they’d already met their $25,000 goal. Now, they’re aiming higher, hoping to renovate several rooms on the fifth floor as well.
There will be sleeper chairs for parents, a coffee maker, CDs and DVDs, child’s potty and an arts and crafts table with colouring books and puzzles, comfy footware for parents, snacks, books and magazines — the kinds of things most parents, frantically rushing out the door with a sick child, forget to pack.
The rooms will be redecorated and equipped with new cribs less “clattery and scary” than the current metal ones, she says.
She also hopes to organize volunteer meal-tray delivery to worried parents “because it’s a long way from the fifth floor to the cafeteria and you really don’t want to leave your child alone”.
These are all lessons her time with Zack taught her. But Heather Hamilton says her son taught her much more in his short life. With all the medical turmoil and bad news doctors heaped on him, Zack never let his troubles become who he was.
“He was a happy, happy kid in spite of everything. He showed me obstacles don’t have to be a way of life. When tragedy strikes, you can move on.”
Each new challenge was a stepping stone for Zack and until the last moment he was fighting. “That was the big lesson to me. You don’t have to live in those bad moments. You can focus on today and it can be beautiful.”

Inspirational Gifts - NICU Donors

2011-06-03T23:40:00.000-07:00

Today York Central Hospital Foundation hosted the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Recognition Celebration in honour of our fantastic donors.

The event took place in the Berwick Family Auditorium at York Central. Donors enjoyed presentations by Hospital President & CEO Altaf Stationwala, Woman & Child Program Operations Director Sally Rogers, Neonatologist Dr. David Gryn, Patient Family Member Rina Lamba, Foundation President & CEO Bill Leacy and Foundation Chair Dr. Nicholas Voudouris.

Rina Lamba shared the heartwarming story of her newest addition's health concerns and demonstrated how the NICU was there for her and her family when they needed it the most. She also spoke of her experiences with her first child who required the services of York Central's old NICU four years ago.

"We are blessed with another child, JAIAN, our first, who is now 4 years. He was also born in this hospital and because he was two months premature, he spent 6 weeks in the old NICU. JAIAN got great care there too, but to see the new facility that is more spacious, brighter and with all the most up to date technology --- the rocking chairs are fabulous – all of this inspires a comfortable and confident environment for any new mother."

Dr. Voudouris thanked the donors who attended and presented them with cards. Peter Miller and Stephen Forman, owners of several McDonald's restaurants in the area, presented a cheque to Foundation staff for the proceeds from McHappy Day 2011 which were designated to the NICU.

After the presentations and speeches, Dr. David Gryn toured donors through the new unit so they could see firsthand the remarkable impact their gifts are having on patient care. Donors also had their photos taken by the NICU sign and were served refreshments in the Berwick.

Thank you to each and every one of our donors for your incredible support and generosity in funding this vital project:

Casino and Hold’em Poker Event 2009

Casino and Hold’em Poker Event 2010

CIBC Wood Gundy

Fabrizio and Nicole Cortellucci Family

Nancy Coxford

Fieldgate Developments

Manuel Fiuza and Vilma Cortellucci-Fiuza Family

G & L Group – Joe and Lucy Lamanna

Great-West Life Assurance Company

Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat Of Toronto

J.P. Bickell Foundation

Rose Mary Tomei-Kehren and Bill Kehren
Carl George Klees

Francis Verena Klees

Shirley Eleanor Klees

William John Klees

Wm. J. Klees & Son Ltd.

The Marin/Alves Family

McDonalds Restaurants - Stephen Forman

McDonalds Restaurants - Peter Miller

Elson and Joyce Miles

Montesano Family/Primont Homes

Fausto and Silvana Palombo and Family

Proud Partners Golf Classic 2010

Vincenzo Pulla’s 80th Birthday

r.a.p.t. in health luncheon 2011

Richmond Hill Christian Community Church

Ross and Nicole Ferrier and Family

The Schad Foundation

Shoppers Drug Mart Tree of Life Campaign

Marita Simbul-Lezon

TACC Construction Co. Ltd.

The Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital

ZZEN Group of Companies Limited

Your gifts are helping to ensure York Region’s smallest patients have the equipment and facilities they require to receive expert and compassionate care close to their homes.

For more photos from the event, check out our Facebook page.

Press Release - Strides for Stroke

2011-05-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stroke Patients "Win" At Record-Breaking Annual Run

Richmond Hill, ON

"There were many athletes of all abilities at this event, but the patients of the York Region District Stroke Centre are the true winners. Because the run/walk was so successful, the Stroke Centre will be able to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment and technology that will ultimately help to improve patient care," said Joseph Gulizia, Chair of the Strides for Stroke committee and a Foundation Board Member.

More than 700 participants of all ages, including York Central Hospital President & CEO Altaf Stationwala, Board of Trustees Chair Dina Palozzi, Richmond Hill Mayor David Barrow and MPP Reza Moridi attended the May 7 event held at Richmond Green in Richmond Hill. The event included a 1K Scamper/Hip Hip Hooray race and 5K run/walk. Each participant who completed the races received a finisher’s medal, courtesy of Pizzaville.

Prizes were also awarded in several categories including top male and female runners and top pledge earners for both teams and individuals. Participants enjoyed post-race massages courtesy of Hillsview Massage and Therapy Centre and walked through the Health Fair, which featured several local businesses and organizations. Special thanks to the Naming Sponsor Richview Manor, a 137-bed Retirement Home, located on Eagles Nest Golf Club.

"We cannot thank the sponsors, volunteers, donors and participants enough for their outstanding support and commitment to the patients of the York Region District Stroke Centre," said Mr. Gulizia. "A lot of effort went into planning this event and we couldn’t have asked for a better result."

Since 2006, York Central Hospital Foundation’s annual run/walk has raised over $470,000, for York Central Hospital. This includes a new Digital Mammography Unit for the Breast Health Centre, leading-edge surgical equipment and construction to triple the size of our Emergency Department.

- 30 -
Contact:
Margo Sage-Arnold
Manager, Special Events
York Central Hospital Foundation
(905) 883-1212 ext. 7803
msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca

Jaimie Shen
Special Events Coordinator
York Central Hospital Foundation
(905) 883-1212 ext. 7807
jshen@yorkcentral.on.ca– York Central Hospital Foundation’s 6th annual Richview Manor Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk event has raised a record $125,000 for the York Region District Stroke Centre, exceeding its original goal of $75,000.

May 13, 2011

Nat'l Nursing Week - Thank You To All of YCH's Dedicated Nursing Staff!

2011-05-12T05:12:00.000-07:00

Give the Ultimate Gift - The Gift of Life

2011-04-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

At York Central Hospital Foundation, we are privileged to have an incredible group of donors and volunteers whose tireless gifts of time, talents, resources and donations have set us apart from other Foundations.

They are our ambassadors. They provide leadership, guidance and experience. They open doors. They donate gifts which help to improve health care in our ever expanding community. They raise awareness - and our profile - in Southwest York Region and beyond. Their support is crucial to our success.

This week, we’re helping to raise awareness of another type of donation: the gift of life. April 17^th to 23rd is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (NOTDAW) in Canada. Nearly 1,500 Ontarians are currently on a wait list for a life-saving organ transplant, some of which are right here in our area. In fact, just over every 2 days, someone in Ontario dies while waiting for an organ transplant.

After attending an organ and tissue donation awareness event on April 19th in the Berwick Family Auditorium, I was incredibly touched by the generosity of our patients and their families.

In 2010 at York Central Hospital, 44 lives were changed because of generous organ and tissue donors.

I was also surprised to learn how many people in our catchment are affected by organ and tissue donation. Last year, 22 patients at York Central received kidney transplants. So far this year, the number is already at seven.

While the statistics from last year are great, the need is still greater; 29 people are on waiting lists in our catchment area. One person could save up to eight lives and enhance up to 75 more by donating their organs and tissue.

To find out more information and register your consent to become an organ and tissue donor, visit giftoflife.on.ca.

Sincerely yours,

Alyshia

Stewardship & Communicaitons Coordinator

Inspirational Gift - Elson and Joyce Miles

2011-04-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

Retired farmers Elson and Joyce Miles have a long history of giving back to the community and this past year was no exception.

Recently, they supported York Central Hospital Foundation in a financially savvy way by donating shares to fund priority equipment projects. By transferring their shares intact, they helped to purchase life-saving medical equipment and avoided paying capital gain tax.

“Having lived in York Region our entire lives and seen the dramatic changes that have taken place, we understand how important community support is for our hospital,” they said. “It gives us great pleasure knowing we are playing a part in York Central’s efforts to improve health care for the people in our community.”

Their gift helped to fund three priority projects: Minimally Invasive Surgery, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Patient Pump Project.

Last night, Elson and Joyce were honoured in a donor recognition ceremony at York Central Hospital. More than 20 past and present Board members, spouses, volunteers, hospital and Foundation staff and family members attended the momentous event. There were many laughs, memories and stories shared about the couple’s long history with the Foundation as well as their involvement in the community.

Speakers included York Central Hospital President & CEO, along with three physicians who spoke about each priority project and the impact of Elson and Joyce’s gift. Stan Neal, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and the colleague who recruited Elson to the Foundation more than 20 years ago, spoke of their history, dedication and vision along with a few personal stories. Dr. Nicholas Voudouris, Chair of the Board of Directors, ended the speeches by thanking the couple and presenting them with a card.

The rest of the event was filled with reminiscing, a lot of laughter and photos.

In addition to being generous donors, Elson and Joyce have been involved in the Foundation for more than 20 years. Elson has served as a Board Member and held a number of executive positions including Chair of the Board. He also played a pivotal role in the $35 million Share The Spirit of Care campaign by chairing the Steering Committee.

Their involvement in the community is equally impressive. Elson was a member and past president of the Markham Pizza Project, a school-based agricultural program. He was also president of the Unionville Home Society and served the Town of Markham as a councillor. Joyce has been involved with church choirs since she was a teenager and led her own choir “Cache Chorale” for 18 years, retiring in 2010. Today, she helps out by playing the organ for occasional weddings and funerals at the Presbyterian Church in old Markham.

Thank you Elson and Joyce for your continued support and commitment to health care in Southwest York Region! The world is truly a better place with community-minded volunteers like both of you.

President's Corner - Honouring our incredible volunteers

2011-04-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

This week marks one of the most important weeks of the year for our Foundation: National Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Our organization relies on the dedication, support and commitment of our volunteers in nearly every area of our daily work. From our Board of Directors to event committees to in-office support, our volunteers work tirelessly to help us become closer to realizing York Central Hospital’s vision of becoming the finest community hospital in Canada.

I feel that we’re blessed to have more than 120 volunteers on our committees, Board of Directors and in our office.

Their leadership, accountability and participation helped us exceed our fundraising goal last year. They’re ensured our events are as successful as possible. They assist us in the office with day-to-day activities. They provide a second, third and fourth opinion and they’ve opened the doors to many new prospects, donors and opportunities.

In addition to the many volunteers in our Foundation, we are incredibly grateful for the more than 900 volunteers at York Central Hospital. These men, women, students and community members play a pivotal role in both the Foundation and the Hospital. The Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital has donated more than $4.4 million to the Foundation towards funding priority projects and generously provide more than 85,000 hours of service each year to the hospital. Thank you to each one of the volunteers for their incredible commitment, service and support.

Our volunteers are fueled by the kindness of their own hearts and have personally taken it upon themselves to work towards making York Central Hospital a better place for our patients, staff and community. While this is the one week in the year that highlights their hard work, we are grateful for our volunteers each and every day. The Hospital and Foundation would truly not be the same without them.

On behalf of the entire York Central Hospital Foundation team, a sincere, heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteers for everything they have done in the past and continue to do as we move forward!

Sincerely yours,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

President's Corner - Happy New (Fiscal) Year!

2011-04-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

Today marks the first day of a new month and the first day of our next fiscal year.

This past year has been a tremendous success: we welcomed a new President & CEO to our hospital, York Central Hospital’s Board of Trustees appointed a new chair and vice-chair and we opened the region’s most advanced Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

And, we exceeded our fundraising goal for the year thanks to the incredible support from donors like you! Through your generosity, we were able to fund more than $1 million in medical equipment and technology, a newly renovated and expanded NICU and a second Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Suite. This means York Central’s team of dedicated medical professionals will have the equipment and facilities they require to continue delivering expert and compassionate care to you, the patients.

Although we’re only a few hours into our new fiscal year, I can’t help but get excited about our projects and goals this year. The development of a two-site health care system is moving forward which means we’re one step closer to being able to provide expanded health care services to residents in Southwest York Region and beyond. We’ve have a new list of priority projects to fund this year, including renovating six paediatric rooms and outfitting them with new equipment.

We’re also raising funds to standardize intravenous pumps throughout the hospital.

Currently, the hospital uses eight different infusion pump systems that do not have built-in safety features. The pump selected by the Hospital is the Symbiq Infusion System – one with a near perfect safety rating.

This pump system increases safety for patients by auto-programming medications, preventing human errors. They are electronically manufactured to detect potential errors, averting mistakes while tracking “near misses” for future improvement. In addition, since the pumps are programmed to dispense the appropriate dosages, nurses and other staff members have more time to spend with patients, improving the overall quality of care.

Finally, we’ve welcomed a new Director of Major Gifts to our team, Luci Anderson. Luci has leadership experience in both the profit and non-profit sectors, including her most recent employer, Providence Healthcare Foundation, where she was the Director of Major Gifts & Campaigns.

With new leadership and several exciting projects under way to improve care for the people in our community, I’m hopeful, through your support, this year will be our best to date!

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

President's Corner - Zack's Dream Room

2011-03-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

It’s amazing what a community can accomplish when they work together.

Two weeks ago, we found out about a young boy named Zack Hamilton. Zack was born in 2007 with several medical conditions including a congenital heart defect, fluid on his brain, hearing loss and global developmental delay. Most uniquely, geneticists discovered Zack had a deletion of the 12^th chromosome – the only recorded case in the world.

Unfortunately, Zack passed away on March 10, 2011 at the age of three-and-a-half. Staff at York Central Hospital, who had become quite fond of Zack during his stays over his short life, put forth the idea of creating an Elmo-themed room in honour of their “frequent flyer”. Zack’s Dream Room was born.

Foundation staff worked with Zack’s mom, Heather, to create a website to raise the required $25,000 to make the room a reality and to raise awareness of this great cause.

The site has been live for less than two weeks and in that time, more than $10,000 has been raised from individuals and businesses alike. Several events within the community have been planned and more and more businesses have stepped forward, offering to donate proceeds from their services and products to Zack’s Dream Room. The outpouring of support has been outstanding!

Having been in fundraising for more than 20 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of families who seek to fundraise in honour of a loved one who has passed away. Their strength never ceases to amaze me, and the Hamiltons are no exception.

This particular case is especially unique as the project was started by staff. Not only does this showcase the incredible impact Zack and the Hamiltons have had on the YCH family, it also represents the character of our staff. Their dedication to their workplace and most importantly the patients is truly remarkable.

Donations to support Zack’s Dream Room can be made online or by calling the Foundation office at 905-883-2032.

Thank you to everyone who has showed their support for this special project. Through your generosity, we’re one step closer to creating an incredible tribute for this memorable little boy.

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

Job Posting - Development Assistant

2011-03-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

Job Title: Development Assistant
Department: Foundation
Reports to: Manager, Special Events
Job Classification: Full-time Position
Start Date: April, 2011

York Central Hospital Foundation’s Mission: We inspire inspirational gifts.

York Central Hospital Foundation was established in 1977 to raise funds for equipment and capital improvements that will positively impact patient care at York Central Hospital. Although operating costs are largely funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, a significant portion of the money required for state-of-the-art equipment, technology and facility renewal is raised in our community through generous donors.

York Central Hospital’s Mission: We reach out – with expert and
compassionate care.

For more than 46 years, York Central has been a provider of increasingly progressive and innovative health care services to our community. As the health care system changes to better meet the needs of those it serves, York Central Hospital will continue to be there. York Central Hospital will be there to lead change in the way that many health care service providers work with each other; to lead change in its unique and comprehensive range of services; and to lead change in providing more services “closer to home.”

The Position: Development Assistant
This position will provide support for all special events and gift administration. This position will also provide support to the Development Team as needed, including preparing correspondence, assisting in maintaining accurate donor records and preparing promotional materials for meetings and events.

Specific Responsibilities:

Support Special Events Manager and Special Events Coordinator, volunteers, and others on signature and community events
Assist Gift Administrator, including entering donations into Raiser’s Edge database and taking deposits to the bank
Enter all in-kind donations into the Raiser’s Edge database
Represent Foundation at all community events/third party events
Provide support for committees as needed, including preparing meeting packages, attending meetings, taking notes and circulating minutes to all committee members as required
Assist with all event mailings including personalization of letters and sponsorship packages, special thank you letters and all other required materials
Assist Special Events Coordinator with cataloguing of auction/raffle items for all events
Provide relief reception duties as needed
Such further and other duties as needed

Education and Qualifications Required:

University Degree/College Diploma with a minimum of two years related experience in a professional environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge an asset
Possess the ability to plan, organize and prioritize work, while handling multiple tasks and interruptions with poise and patience
Display effective writing skills, especially in the area of correspondence and report writing
Demonstrate the ability to work both collaboratively within a team and independently with minimal supervision
Strong interpersonal and public relations skills
The ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately and with discretion

Please forward CV’s to Margo Sage-Arnold, Manager, Special Events at foundation@yorkcentral.on.ca

* Please reference the job title “Development Assistant” in the subject line of your e-mail

We thank you for your interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Inspirational Project - Zack Hamilton

2011-03-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

On March 10, 2011, the world lost a very inspirational little boy, Zack Hamilton.

Zack was born in September 2007 with a congenital heart defect known as Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage (TAPVD). At two and a half weeks old, Zack underwent a procedure to repair his heart. Zack’s survival at that time, was the first of many miracles in his life.

Zack also had several other anomalies, including hearing loss, global developmental delay, feeding issues, a gastrostomy tube (G-Tube), seizures, and fluid in the brain. Though he had no official overall diagnosis, the genetics team discovered Zack had a deletion of the 12th chromosome. This deletion is the first recorded case in the world, making Zack a very special and unique little guy.

Although just 3 years old, Zack touched many more people that he ever could have realized. Life is best measured by impact and not duration. In that way, Zack lived a life of incredible importance.

To honour this amazing little boy, we are raising funds to dedicate a room to Zack at York Central Hospital decorated with his favourite character – Elmo.

You can help us make Zack’s Dream Room a reality by making an online donation now. Your tax-deductible gift will help ensure Zack’s memory continues to live on.

You can find out updates on this project through our Facebook account, Twitter page, and through Zack’s Dream Room Website. Information can also be found by visiting his mom, Heather's blog and Zack's Dream Twitter page.

For more information about the project, please contact:

Tammy Bucci
Major Gifts Officer
Tel: 905-883-1212 x7805
E-mail: tbucci@yorkcentral.on.ca

Alyshia Higgins
Stewardship and Communications Coordinator
Tel: 905-883-1212 x7810
E-mail: ahiggins@yorkcentral.on.ca

Thank you for your support. Together, we are helping to honour this remarkable young boy in a truly special way.

Sincerely yours,

Alyshia

Stewardship & Communications Coordinator

Lace Up For A Great Cause!

2011-03-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year again – pull out your running shoes and jogging gear and get ready to walk or run for a great cause!

Join York Central Hospital Foundation as we take strides in support of the District Stroke Centre, here in York Region on May 7 at Richmond Green Park in Richmond Hill. Sign up for the 5K Run/Walk or participate in the 1K Children's Scamper for those 12 and under.

Since 2006, this annual event has raised over $345,000, helping to fund state-of-the art medical equipment for York Central Hospital. Last year, more than 750 participants raised $116,000. This year our goal is to raise at least $75,000 and proceeds will be directed to the York Region District Stroke Centre located within the hospital.

Your support of the Richview Manor Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk will directly contribute to funding an annual District Stroke Bursary to offer high quality education opportunities to York Central Hospital staff in order to provide them with continuous, up-to-date knowledge on best practices to treat stroke patients. Proceeds from the event will also help fund equipment to support staff in delivering acute stroke treatment.

Take of advantage of the early bird registration fee by registering today at www.yorkcentralrun.com. Hurry – fees go up April 1, 2011.

Join today as an individual, or encourage your office and family members to participate and register as a team. Friendly competition is welcomed and encouraged, especially for such a great cause!

If you have any questions about the run, please email Jaimie Shen.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you all on Saturday, May 7.

Sincerely yours,

Alyshia

Stewardship & Communications Coordinator

Inspirational Gift - Andrea Tang

2011-03-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

For the second year in a year, Andrea Tang has shown she has a heart of gold.

The 17-year-old recently celebrated her birthday and in lieu of gifts, asked friends and family to help her raise money for the John & Josie Watson Breast Health Centre at York Central Hospital.

Andrea started donating her birthday proceeds to YCH last year to show her support for the care her mother received at the hospital.

This year, Andrea donated $800 to the hospital. This, combined with last year's donation totals $1,500. Happy birthday Andrea, and thank you for Caring to make a difference!

(PHOTO: left to right - Wendy McInnis, Technical Specialist – Mammography, Andrea Tang, 17 and Cindy Draycott, Operations Director Diagnostic Services & Clinical Support. )

Media Release - Fundraising Event Exceeds Goal

2011-03-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 7, 2011

Biennial Event Exceeds Fundraising Goal

Richmond Hill, ON– York Central Hospital Foundation’s second r.a.p.t. in health luncheon raised $150,000 net, exceeding its original fundraising goal.

“The event completely exceeded our expectations, and we couldn’t be happier with the results,” said Margo Sage-Arnold, Manager, Special Events at the foundation. “Our first luncheon in 2009 raised $50,000, and we were hoping to double it with this event, so we’re incredibly pleased.”

More than 400 guests, mainly women, attended the event held on March 4 at Le Parc Concord. Guests participated in raffle draws, received door prizes and were entertained by Yani and the Clave Kings who got the crowd up and dancing. Guests also enjoyed a delicious healthy lunch, followed by a chocolate pairing demonstration for dessert. In appreciation for attending the event, each guest received a gift bag with numerous products donated by generous companies and individuals.

Keynote speakers included Honorary Chair Beverly Thomson. Ms. Thomson is Co-host of CTV Canada AM. Dr. Bryce Wylde, one of Canada’s leading alternative health experts, also spoke about nutrition and healthy eating.

“None of this would have been possible without the support of the community, donors, generous sponsors and of course, our r.a.p.t. in health committee members,” said Ms. Sage-Arnold. “Co-chairs Vilma Cortellucci-Fiuza and Lee Zanetti provided incredible leadership and helped make this event a tremendous success.”

The funds raised will go towards equipping York Central Hospital’s newly renovated and expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The state-of-the-art unit was opened on December 14 and will eventually have the capacity to care for twice as many patients as the old unit.

The first r.a.p.t. in health luncheon was held in 2009 and since than, has raised over $200,000 for priority projects including the John and Josie Watson Breast Health Centre and the NICU.

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Contact: Margo Sage-Arnold

Manager, Special Events

York Central Hospital Foundation

(905) 883-2032

msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca

President's Corner - RHCOC Awards

2011-03-03T13:39:00.001-08:00

Last night was an evening of accomplishments, celebrations and recognition.

The 20^th Annual Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards were held at the Sheraton Convention Centre and eight local businesses received recognition for their hard work, dedication and commitment over the past year.

Being recognized by your peers for your hard work, dedication and service excellence is an outstanding accomplishment and I felt privileged to have had the opportunity to attend.

Winners of the prestigious awards were as follows:

General Award:
Gordon Wood Optical
Mister Transmission (International) Limited
Reggio Kids
Richmond Hill Toyota
Costco Wholesale Richmond Hill

Non Profit Award
Yellow Brick House

PowerStream Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Award
Toronto Recycling Inc.

Mayor’s Award
PCI Geomatics Enterprises Inc.

It was inspiring to see the awards given out and to hear speeches from the CEOs, owners and employees of each company. In Richmond Hill, our economy is thriving and prosperous and it is because of business owners and employees like the ones who attended last night.

Congratulations to all of the award winners!

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy
President & CEO

President's Corner - Board Retreat

2011-02-28T05:34:00.000-08:00

An organization is only as strong as its weakest link, or so the old adage goes. If this is the case, York Central Hospital Foundation’s future has never looked stronger or brighter.

Recently, we hosted a Board Retreat in the Berwick Family Auditorium. The event’s title was “Becoming a High Performance Board” and focused on how to improve upon past successes while obtaining future goals.

The evening opened with a presentation from York Central Hospital President & CEO Altaf Stationwala about the future of health care in Southwest York Region.

Board Members then enjoyed a presentation focusing on fundraising trends as well as comparables for local organizations. A discussion was initiated about moving forward as a collective, accountable group and how each Board Member can become increasingly involved in the Foundation.

The questions raised by Board Members were thought-provoking and their feedback will be invaluable in helping us reach our goals both now and in the future.

Having an engaged and dedicated Board of Directors is crucial to our success. As members of our growing community, you can rest assured each and every Board Member is committed to raising funds for medical technology that will improve health care for you and your family.

The retreat renewed my optimism and belief for the future, and I hope it did the same for you. With your support and our Board of Directors committed to achieving our goals, we’re well on our way to helping York Central Hospital “become the finest community hospital in

Canada

.”

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

Media Advisory - r.a.p.t. in health luncheon

2011-02-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release:

Media Advisory

BEVERLY THOMSON AND DR. BRYCE WYLDE TO SPEAK AT YORK CENTRAL FUNDRAISER

Richmond Hill, ON – The second r.a.p.t in health luncheon, to be held March 4, 2011, will include guest speakers Beverly Thomson, co-host Canada AM and honorary co-chair of the event and Dr. Bryce Wylde, a leading Canadian alternative health expert and a recent guest on the Dr. Oz show. The event will also feature entertainment by Yani and The Clave King, gift bags, raffles and door prizes.

All proceeds from the r.a.p.t in health luncheon will go towards equipping York Central Hospital’s newly renovated and expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The state-of-the-art unit was opened on December 14 and has increased the hospital’s capacity to provide specialized care for those babies that require extra attention after birth. Last year, the Hospital welcomed over 2,800 babies; on average, 13% or 364 of these infants required specialized care.

Who: Ms. Beverly Thomson and Dr. Bryce Wylde

What: Second biennial r.a.p.t in health luncheon for York Central’s NICU

Where: Le Parc Concord

20 North Rivermede Road

Concord, ON L4K 2H2

When: Friday, March 4, 2011

Time: Registration: 9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Keynote Speakers: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Lunch and entertainment: 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Photo opportunities will be available during and after the event.

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Media contacts:

Margo Sage-Arnold Jaimie Shen

Manager, Special Events Special Events Coordinator

York Central Hospital Foundation York Central Hospital Foundation

Tel: (905) 883-1212 ext. 7803 Tel: (905) 883-1212 ext. 7807

E-mail: msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca E-mail: jshen@yorkcentral.on.ca

Inspirational Gift - Richmond Hill Christian Community Church

2011-02-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

The Richmond Hill Christian Community Church recently chose York Central Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as the beneficiary of their holiday charity drive. Over the course of the holidays, members of the congregation generously gave more than $19,000 towards this priority project.

The NICU was opened on December 14, 2010 and will eventually have the capacity to care for twice as many of our tiniest and most vulnerable babies as the old unit. Each spacious care station is designed and equipped specifically for infants needing special care and includes an isolette and physiological monitor, intravenous pumps, a bedside computer documentation system and phototherapy units.

The new NICU has the appropriate space and design to more easily accommodate life-saving equipment and greater flexibility to deal with emergency situations. Ultimately, this leads to improved development for babies with challenges at birth and allows families in our community to take their babies home sooner.

Their donation is the largest the Foundation has ever received from a church and we are incredibly honoured for their generous gift.

Thank you to everyone at the Richmond Hill Christian Community Church for inspiring us this past holiday season!

York Central – YOUR Community Hospital

2011-02-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

For more than 47 years, York Central Hospital has been a provider of increasingly progressive and innovative health care services to you, our community.

Last year, our Emergency Department saw 80,000 patient visits – for reference, that’s more than Mount Sinai and Toronto General’s Emergency Department visits combined!

The hospital is home to several specialized services including the York Region District Stroke Centre, York Region Chronic Kidney Disease Program, York Region and Simcoe County Behaviour Management Services, Central East Autism Services for York Region as well as the York Region Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Care Centre.

Staff help welcome 2,800 babies into the community each year – your nieces, nephews, neighbours, daughters, sons and grandchildren.

When your child requires stitches after a playground fall, it’s our Emergency Department you’ll visit. When your mother or father requires knee or hip replacement surgery, the hospital’s dedicated surgeons and staff will provide the expert and compassionate care they need to recover and get back home.

Patient scores in the Palliative Care and Chronic Kidney Disease Program are exceptional. We’re a provincial leader in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) for colon cancer, and are positioning to become an MIS Centre of Excellence.

Through your incredible generosity and dedication, we completed the largest redevelopment and expansion in our history. At York Central Hospital Foundation, we’ve been proud to partner with you to enhance health care in our community.

York Central isn’t just any community hospital, it’s YOUR community hospital. Email me today to find out how you can become involved and help us ensure our future is as bright as our history.

Sincerely yours,

Alyshia

Stewardship & Communications Coordinator

President's Corner - Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Suite

2011-02-16T13:10:00.000-08:00

February is more than half over and that means the grand opening of our newest priority project is around the corner!

Construction began on our second Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Suite in this month, and is expected to be finished in the spring.

Minimally Invasive Surgery reduces patients’ pain, decreases recovery time, helps to improve wait times for surgical care and overall improves patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Our first MIS, The Paul B. Helliwell Foundation MIS Suite, was opened in September 2009 and our team of established MIS surgeons is able to provide a broad range of MIS laparoscopic services including:

· Adrenalectomy – the removal of cancerous adrenal glands

· Percutaneous nephrolithotomy – removal of kidney stones

· Laparoscopic nephrectomy – removal of all or part of an infected or cancerous kidney

· Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH)

· Laparoscopic abdominal hysterectomy (LAH)

· Colon and rectum resection for benign and malignant disease

· Gastrectomy

· Hartman’s procedure and reversal of Hartman’s procedure – emergency procedure for a perforated bowel

· Hernia repair

· Splenectomy –removal of a diseased or damaged spleen

· Thoracoscopy – internal examination of the pleural cavity (the body of cavity that surrounds the lungs

York Central Hospital is one of a few hospitals in the province that has such a complement of general surgeons with fellowship level training and the skills to perform advanced MIS procedures. As a group, we are performing among the highest volumes of laparoscopic colon resections in the GTA. As well, we are a provincial leader in MIS for colon cancer surgery.

With this success come challenges. Simply, we do not have enough time available to schedule all the surgeries in one MIS Suite. Moreover, to help York Central Hospital move closer to fulfilling our vision of becoming the finest community hospital in

Canada

, we are expanding our MIS services to include urology and gynaecology which will help patients suffering from prostate or bladder cancer and fibroid tumors.

With a second MIS Suite, operating room turnover, operative times, physical burden on nurses, team morale and overall efficiency will be improved which will add to these savings. In addition, a second MIS will help our ability to attract top notch surgeons and retain our expert nurses and allied health professionals.

Perhaps most importantly, the impact on the patients will be outstanding.

The total costs for a second MIS Suite are estimated to be $525,000. If you are interested in helping us fund this vital initiative, please email me. Together, we can improve health care for residents in Southwest York Region.

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

Inspirational Gift - Garofalo Family

2011-02-14T13:03:00.000-08:00

Our goal as a Foundation is to raise money for life-saving medical equipment and technology not covered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. We rely on the generosity of donors like you to help us reach our fundraising goals.

Each year, we are continually amazed and gracious for the support of our community. In addition to the support of residents living in Southwest York Region and beyond, we are proud to be able to say our staff, physicians and board members are also donors, including the Garofalo Family.

Recently, Foundation Board Member David Garofalo generously funded a patient care room on the Integrated Orthopaedic Patient Care Unit.

It is through generosity like yours and the Garofalo Family’s that we are able to provide York Central with life-saving equipment and technology.

Thank you Garofalo Family for your inspirational gift and for Caring to make a difference™.

If you would like to become involved at York Central Hospital Foundation either as a donor or volunteer, please email me – I’d love to hear from you!

Sincerely yours,

Alyshia

Stewardship & Communications Coordinator

Media Advisory - Strides For Stroke Kick Off Celebrations

2011-02-11T05:12:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release

February 11, 2011

Media Advisory

KICK OFF CELEBRATIONS FOR ANNUAL WALK / RUN TO
TAKE PLACE
AT YORK CENTRAL HOSPITAL

Richmond Hill, ON – The Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk official kick off celebration is taking place Monday in York Central Hospital’s Berwick Family Auditorium. Staff, friends and family can take advantage of early registration fees and enjoy a slice of pizza. York Central Hospital President & CEO Altaf Stationwala will also be joining the celebrations. The annual walk run takes place in May 7, 2011. Funds raised from the event will benefit the York Region District Stroke Centre located in the hospital.

Since 2006, York Central Hospital Foundation’s annual walk-run has raised over $345,000, helping to fund the acute care expansion and purchase state-of-the-art equipment for York Central Hospital. This includes a new Digital Mammography Unit for Breast Health, leading-edge surgical equipment and construction to triple the size of our Emergency Department.

Who: York Central Hospital Foundation

What: Strides for Stroke 5K Run / Walk Kick Off Celebration

Where: Berwick Family Auditorium

York Central Hospital

10 Trench Street

Richmond Hill, ON

When: Monday, February 14, 2011

Time: 11:00 a.m.: Event Kick Off

12:15 p.m.: Message from Altaf Stationwala, President & CEO

Photo opportunities will be available during and after the event.

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Media Contacts:

Margo Sage-Arnold Jaimie Shen

Manager, Special Events Coordinator, Special Events

York Central Hospital Foundation York Central Hospital Foundation

Tel: (905) 883-1212 ext. 7803 Tel: (905) 883-1212 ext. 7807

E-mail: msagearnold@yorkcentral.on.ca E-mail: jshen@yorkcentral.on.ca