The Louise Marshall Hospital (LMH) Foundation’s $5-million fundraising campaign has received a half-million dollar boost from local transportation company TD Smith.
On Feb. 24 Smith family members, staff and hospital officials were on-hand for the initial $300,000 donation, with the remaining $200,000 committed over the next five years.
Tyler Smith made the donation at the company headquarters on Sligo Road in Mount Forest.
“Thank you for all you are doing for our community,” Smith told hospital officials assembled at the presentation. “It’s a great honour to do something like this for the community.”
Dr. Robert McFarlane, fundraising chairman for foundation’s “Always Here for You Campaign,” accepted the donation.
“Being ready for future health care in our community is the driving force behind our hospital campaign,” McFarlane said in a press release.
“It is evident today with the receipt of this incredible gift that we have many friends who agree. To accept this gift on behalf of the committee and the Mount Forest Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation is one of the most encouraging moments of this campaign. Thank you to all at TD Smith Transport for stepping up and giving us a great reason to celebrate.”
The campaign, launched in June, is nearing $3 million raised so far, foundation development officer Jane Ford told the Advertiser prior to the presentation.
The $5-million campaign is earmarked for the redevelopment of the Mount Forest hospital’s emergency and ambulatory care departments.
North Wellington Health Care CEO Jerome Quenneville noted the donation is the campaign’s largest to date. He said the company is known for its support and previous donations to LMH.
“The family and staff as a whole have contributed a lot to the community,” Quenneville said.
He added the provincial ministry of health and long term care has already committed to paying for 90 per cent of the work, with the community having to raise the remaining 10%.
“It’s a major commitment for a small community,” Quenneville said of the local contribution target.
“Five million for Mount Forest is huge.”
The reconstruction of the emergency department is expected to accommodate growth in emergency visits, which according to Quenneville are expected to increase to over 1,050 patients per month by 2018.
Mike and Donna Smith were unable to attended the ceremony, but said in a press release the family was pleased to contribute.
“We feel blessed to live in a community where everybody acknowledges the importance of our hospital and the great lengths everybody commits, in one way or another, to ensure industry stays viable in Mount Forest,” Mike Smith said.
“Our young people want to come back to start their families, be employed locally and our seniors enjoy retiring here. It is our sincere hope that other businesses and organization in this community will consider how important the hospital is to them.
“We decided for business reasons, it was better to spread our support over several years. This approach may work for others too. We know how important early commitments are to this campaign because the ministry needs to see the campaign is moving forward.”
