$1MILLION DONATION!
January 12, Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Foundation announced its capital campaign to redevelop the hospital. Together, the four Rotary Clubs of Burlington are proud to be among the first to donate $1 MILLION DOLLARS over seven years to the project. Several Rotarians have served in the past or are serving on the JBMH Board of Governors and on the Foundation Board of Directors.
The projected cost of Phase 1 is $300M plus.The planned local civic contribution is $120M. Our City Council has approved up to a $60M contribution and the JBMH Foundation will also raise $60M net through their local capital campaign.The remaining funding will be provided through our provincial government. The four Rotary Clubs of Burlington have been integrally supportive of the hospital over the years. The oldest club, the Burlington Club, was formed in 1951. Jim Parker, a charter member, recalls a 1957 fund raising campaign to collect $20,000 to furnish a floor of the hospital. They have continued to support the hospital through the years including a more recent installation of a computerized patient support system in the cancer clinic.
The Rotary Club of Burlington Central has played a prominent role as an advocate for the hospital.The club was founded 25 years ago with the purpose of helping the JBMH. $375,000 was raised at that time by the foundling club for Operation Heartbeat. At one time, the ICU was named for the Central Club, and they still continue to be a strong benefactor of the hospital.
Through Ribfest, the Lakeshore Club supports the hospital in various ways including leveraging Ribfest sponsors to donate to the hospital. Another successful project is a shuttle service organized by the Club for Ribfest and staffed by the hospital’s Auxiliary.The shuttle raises around $13,000 each year for the hospital.The Auxiliary serves as a major fund-raising arm for the hospital and is also a ‘Million Dollar Donor’ along with the Rotary Clubs.
The North Club, the youngest of the four clubs, has raised funds for surgical equipment.The Amazing Bed Race was created to raise money for JBMH and bring community spirit to Burlington. Over the last two years, the Amazing Bed Race has garnered over $170,000. Funds from the event have gone to purchase patient monitoring systems, support ambulatory care projects, and support for the JBMH capital campaign and other Rotary programs.
This new project is long overdue. Although dollars and cents are the building blocks of this project, our focus needs to be on the benefits this will bring to our community through expanded, improved, increased, and more efficient hospital services benefiting every single person in Burlington.