Donors Recognized For Helping Keep Quality Medical Services In Goderich
Laura Broadley, Postmedia Network
Board members, staff and donors packed the Beach Street Station restaurant on Nov. 7 for a donor recognition event with the Alexandra Marine & General Hospital Foundation.
Dean Whalen, treasurer of the AMGH Foundation, said donors make it possible for high-quality medical services to be available in Goderich.
The Bayfield Lions club presented a cheque for $1,000 and the Lucknow & District Kinsmen Club presented a cheque for $10,000 last Saturday.
As a surprise and an extra “thank you” to the donors, Ellison Travel presented a free trip to Bernadine McDonald after her name was chosen randomly from attendees at the event.
(The Bayfield Lions Club presented a cheque to the AMGH Foundation for $1,000. Pictured here, from left to right, Gwen Devereaux, Don Vance, Samantha Marsh and Dean Whalen. Photo courtesy Laura Broadley, Postmedia Network)
The foundation has the task of rasing the funds, managing those assets and then eventually giving it to the hospital, Whalen said.
In the 2014-15 fiscal year the foundation was able to raise $836,000.
(The Lucknow & District Kinsmen Club presented a cheque for $10,000 to the AMGH Foundation. Pictured here, from left to right, Gwen Devereaux, Bobby Simpson, Samantha Marsh and Dan Stringer. Photo courtesy Laura Broadley, Postmedia Network)
Dr. Don Neal, president of medical staff, said the foundation began because the community came together with a common purpose and a common goal. He said founding members realized that they could do better for the town and for the county.
Neal said he remembered thinking that if patients had access to the necessary equipment sooner it could be “miraculous.” Patients are diagnosed faster and more efficiently when the equipment is on site.
(Ellison Travel presented a free trip to a lucky winner at the AMGH Foundation donor
recognition event on Nov. 7. Pictured here, from left to right, Gwen Devereaux, David Reid, Bernadine McDonald and Dean Whalen. Photo courtesy Laura Broadley, Postmedia Network)
Neal said equipment like the CT scanner, attract new and younger doctors to the hospital as well.
New projects for the hospital come from the ground-up, meaning the staff decide what is needed based on patient needs.
Neal noted that AMGH is the only hospital in Huron County where a woman can have her baby. Other hospitals in the county drifted away from that service because of the costs involved but AMGH was able to keep that part open.
The psychiatric wing is also the only one in Huron County, said Neal. It needs refurbished but there is no money except for the money that is donated.
“There will be other projects,” Neal said.
Source: The Goderich Signal Star
