A season for The Gift of Health
Pearl Veenema is the Chief Executive Officer of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.
You can feel the excitement building as the holidays approach. The air is filled with anticipation for the best of the season, including treasured family traditions, good food and the exchange of gifts.
But beneath the glitter and busyness of the holidays, it’s also a time for giving back. While we celebrate and reflect on the many blessings in our lives, we should also ask ourselves how we can help our neighbours and make the world a better place for all.
One of the best things we can do to strengthen the community is to support health care excellence at our hospitals.
The greatest gift of all is the gift of health
The old saying still rings true – “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.” The greatest gift of all is the gift of health – it allows us to experience life to its fullest and explore our potential as human beings. There’s no greater gift you can give yourself, a loved one or a neighbour in your community. As a donor to Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, you have the power to give that gift and have a positive impact on people’s lives.
Having access to world-class health care facilities and services is important for everyone. From newborn babies taking their first breaths in the delivery room to seniors enjoying the twilight years of their lives, Hamilton Health Sciences cares for patients covering the full spectrum of life’s journey.
At some point in our lives, we all rely on the medical professionals at our hospitals to help us through a medical challenge or emergency. Whether you require care at Hamilton General Hospital, Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre, McMaster Children’s Hospital or St. Peter’s Hospital, the expert teams at Hamilton Health Sciences stand ready to provide exceptional care. Serving a population of more than 2.3 million people throughout south-central Ontario, Hamilton Health Sciences is the largest and most comprehensive health care organization in the region.
These are some of the reasons I’m asking you to support Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation’s Holiday fundraising campaign, The Gift of Health. Contributions from donors like you make a major difference in the lives of patients and families by funding vital equipment purchases and patient amenities.
From the tiniest surgical tool to the largest piece of diagnostic equipment
Especially since the government does not fund equipment purchases at our hospitals, the support of donors like you is crucial to ensuring that Hamilton Health Sciences can provide the best possible care when it’s needed most. From the tiniest surgical tool to the largest piece of diagnostic equipment, donor gifts help keep Hamilton Health Sciences on the leading edge of care in the region, the province and the country.
The technology available to care for patients is always evolving, and funds raised through The Gift of Health help to equip health care workers with state-of-the-art equipment and tools that optimize patient care.
Much of the equipment in our hospitals has a limited lifespan and must be upgraded periodically. Donors like you make this possible, and your gifts also enable the purchase of important single-use resources that must be replaced on a continual basis. Since the need never ends, the support of donors is always appreciated.
Making a real difference in your community
The remarkable teams at Hamilton Health Sciences go beyond the call of duty every day to provide the best care possible, whether they are working on the frontlines of the COVID response or are meeting the non-COVID needs of patients. Your support of The Gift of Health is a wonderful way to say “thank you” to the amazing health care workers at Hamilton Health Sciences for their commitment to excellence.
The holiday season is the perfect time to make a real difference in your community by supporting health care for the region. As Anne Frank once said, “No one need wait a single moment to improve the world.”
With 2021 coming to a close, we look to the future with hope and resilience. By supporting The Gift of Health with your donation, you are planting the seed for a brighter new year for everyone in south-central Ontario. Whether they live in the Greater Hamilton Area, Grimsby, the Niagara Region, Brantford, Kitchener-Waterloo or Haldimand-Norfolk, patients of all ages and walks of life will benefit from your generosity.
We wish you and your family the best of the season. As you enjoy the holidays with loved ones, please stay safe and give the greatest gift of all at www.giftofhealth.ca.
This article was originally published in the Hamilton Spectator
