The Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation has overcome pandemic-related issues to raise a tremendous amount of funding for the hospital.
At the hospital's annual general meeting Thursday, the foundation presented a cheque for $3,514,000. The funding supported over 70 projects and equipment purchases for the Ouellette and Metropolitan campuses.
Foundation President and Board Chair John Jedlinski praised the community for coming through even as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lingered.
"We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the community and our donors for believing in the power of philanthropy and doing their part to help ensure our hospital is equipped with the best, state-of-the-art that is not funded by government dollars," says Jedlinski. “The Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation exists to support the growing needs of our hospital and the allocation of these funds supports every program within our two campuses."
Jedlinski highlighted some of the projects that were made possible with the funding.
"Whole body cooling equipment for our NICU to help control the body temperature of newly born babies. Endoscopic ultrasound to help manage gastrointestinal cancers," said Jedlinski. "These are just two examples of pieces of equipment supported by the Foundation that did not previously exist in Windsor and will now keep patients here at home."
The foundation is in the midst of a five-year plan that involves the Ouellette Campus Cardiac Cath Lab, annual support for the WE-SPARK Health Institute, and the future support of the new Windsor-Essex acute care hospital.
Complete information on the foundation can be found on its official website.