We’ve reached the goal!
The High River District Health Care Foundation is thrilled to announce that through incredible community support from the 36th Annual Dinner & Auction, along with a separate grouping of generous donations, that operating rooms at the High River Hospital will be equipped with advanced equipment to better care for our community.
“With the audacious goal of raising $500,000 the OR Project allows us to advance care in the operating rooms, ensuring that our surgical team has access to the most up-to-date tools which leads to the best possible outcomes for our loved ones and contributes to efficient use of these vital resources” stated Wendy Kennelly, Foundation Executive Director.
“We started looking at this project in August and have been absolutely overwhelmed by the community support shown and the speed in which we were able to achieve our goal.” What is most exciting is that through this project and the generosity of donors, for the first time ever, we will be recognizing donors with naming opportunities.
In front of a sold-out crowd at the Dinner Kennelly announced a transformative gift recently received by the Quon Family. “Their donation is in honour of their brother and uncle BELFORD QUON who passed away earlier this year. Belf was a pillar of his community known to many, particularly when he proudly ran Quon’s Grocery downtown. He served on town council, was a volunteer fireman, a founding member of the golf club, an ardent curler, softball player, and fisherman. And in honour of this donation, we will be naming surgical suite #1 the BELFORD QUON MEMORIAL SURGERY SUITE. The family and our Foundation team are honoured to announce this gift because BELF was a very special member of the community who did so much for the Town of High River.”
In addition, we have a substantial legacy gift from Mrs. Lois Long. Lois passed away in 2023 and made a donation to the Foundation through her estate. Lois had a rewarding career as a nurse and was well respected and well known in the community. Lois’s extended family and our Foundation team are honoured to announce that we will be naming surgical suite #2, the LOIS & LELAND LONG and FAMILY MEMORIAL SUITE The generosity continued, celebrating amazing individual gifts made to purchase specific pieces of equipment:
Donating a state-of-the-art cardiac monitor is Ray & Liz Bouillet • Peter & Johanna Killam have helped to purchase two new highly advanced surgical tables The generosity and commitment from the community continued through to the Dinner & Auction raising an incredible $228,500, taking us to our $500,000 goal!
The success of this evening is possible because of our generous sponsors, donors and everyone who purchased event and raffle tickets and bid on auction items. Dr. Warner, Chief of Medical staff said ‘Thanks to our donors through the Foundation, we can enhance the quality of care we provide locally. Advanced equipment attracts great staff and over 30 visiting surgeons to work in our two operating theatres and our endoscopy suite and increases the types of surgical services we can provide in our community. It’s about so much more than medical intervention. We stay innovative and inspired in our work and we are extremely grateful.’
With over 2240 surgeries and 1965 scopes provided at the High River Hospital in 2023. An active OR ensures the long-term viability of the hospital and, most importantly, it means patients can obtain surgeries and diagnostic procedures right here in High River.
THANK YOU! This is once again an amazing example of community support for hometown healthcare and those being cared for.
