NEWS RELEASE
TIMMINS AND DISTRICT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
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With the arrival of spring comes preparations for the Timmins and District Hospital Foundation’s 19th Annual Spring Gala and the 10th Annual Spring Lottery to be held at The Senator Hotel on Saturday, May 6, 2017.
Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward the purchase of surgical equipment for the Ophthalmic Surgical Program at TADH.
The Foundation is thrilled to be able to announce a most promising $50,000 prize board for the lottery once again this year with a variety of photo-ops to showcase the coveted prizes and the generous donors who make this event possible.
The first photo-op held Tuesday, Apr. 18, 2017 at N. Lacroix Plumbing & Heating, featured the following prizes:
All-Inclusive Vacation Voucher valued at $5,000 donated by Timmins Financial Inc.
Broil King Large Offset Charcoal Grill & Smoker donated by N. Lacroix Plumbing & Heating
In attendance at Tuesday’s photo-op were Gord Cowie, Spring Gala & Lottery committee member; Pierre Lacroix, president, N. Lacroix Plumbing & Heating Ltd; and Jason Gervais, president, Timmins Financial Inc. When asked why they donated prizes to the Foundation’s 10th Annual Spring Lottery, the business men responded as follows:
“I have received so much from our community and this is my way of giving back,” stated Jason Gervais, president, Timmins Financial who is also a Foundation board member and Spring Gala & Lottery committee member.
“I choose to support local charities that benefit the people of Timmins,” stated Pierre Lacroix, president, N. Lacroix Plumbing & Heating. “Our hospital helps the people of Timmins and surrounding areas on a daily basis and that’s why I choose TADH,” continued Lacroix.
The second photo-op, held Thursday, Apr. 20, 2017 at Mikey’s General Sales & Repair, featured the following prizes:
Beachcomber 360 Series Hybrid Hot Tub donated by Mikey’s General Sales & Repair
4 VIP Passes to Stars & Thunder 2017 - International Fireworks Festival donated by the City of Timmins
In attendance for this second of a series of photo-ops were Steven Black, Mayor, City of Timmins; Mike Mason, owner & manager, Mikey’s General Sales & Repair; and Jessica Gervais, Spring Gala & Lottery committee member.
“I donate to the Timmins and District Hospital Foundation because I trust in the work that they do and I like to see my donations helping the people of Timmins,” stated Mike Mason, owner & manager, Mikey’s General Sales & Repair. Mikey’s has been donating prizes to the Foundation’s lottery for 10 years, since its inception in 2008.
“Our organizing committee wanted to support the City’s first ever Stars & Thunder International Fireworks Festival and felt that putting their ticket on our lottery ticket would be a great opportunity to promote the event,” stated Patricia Gaudreau, assistant executive director, TADH Foundation.
The fundraising goal for the Foundation’s 19th Annual Spring Gala and 10th Annual Spring Lottery is to net $200,000 - including the $85,000 to be raised from the lottery.
Funds raised will go toward the purchase of equipment needed to expand the Ophthalmic Surgical Program to accommodate Dr. Alejandro Oliver and TADH’s newest addition to the surgical team, Dr. Sohail Safi.
The demand for cataract surgery is increasing due to an aging population and TADH has been struggling to meet those demands with only one ophthalmologist.
Dr. Oliver has gone from doing 500 surgeries per year to 707 surgeries and, in order to meet the demand, we need to be doing 1000 surgeries per year. TADH is now in a position to do just that with the addition of Dr. Safi to the team.
Now, we must purchase the additional equipment required to meet those targets and provide our community with the best eye care possible within reasonable wait times.
Only 200 of the coveted gold lottery tickets will be sold at $500 each. Tickets are available until Saturday, May 6, 2017 and can be purchased through the Timmins and District Hospital Foundation office or from any of the following Spring Gala & Lottery committee members: Gord Cowie, Dianne Denault, Jason Gervais, Jessica Gervais, Line Levasseur, Sue McArthur and Mary Ellen Pauli; and Foundation volunteers: Frances Burke, Denise Millions, Mike Mason and Ryan Taylor.
“On behalf of the Foundation and the healthcare team at Timmins and District Hospital, I wish to express my appreciation to all the local businesses for their generous donations towards the lottery,” stated Janna Burke, executive director, TADH Foundation. “Most importantly, we are grateful for their commitment to patient care in our community through their consistent support of the Foundation,” added Burke.
From the James Bay coast to Engleheart, from Hearst to Kirkland Lake, Timmins and District Hospital is the beating heart of a vast, beautiful and vibrant region. We hold the well-being of over 115,000 people in our hands...and they, in turn, hold our fate in theirs.
As the largest hospital in Northeast Ontario, TADH is poised on the brink of a new era in healthcare for this region. To meet the growing and changing needs of the families we serve, the facilities and equipment of our hospital must be renewed. Not years from now, but now.
Outdated, cramped, with an aging building and obsolete equipment, TADH is long past due for a revitalization that will enable us to take our District’s healthcare into the 21st century.
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