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Greetings!
Happy New Year to all of the friends of the Rouge Valley Health System Foundation.
Everyone here at the Foundation is very excited about the year ahead, with three important fundraising campaigns underway. Along with efforts to reach the $5 million goal of the Image is Everything Campaign to purchase an MRI for Ajax, the Buy a Bed Campaign is expected to heat up as the year goes along, as volunteers get closer and closer to collecting funds to purchase 100 beds at Centenary.
On top of this, in the weeks ahead, the Foundation is expected to announce a new campaign, a project to raise funds to purchase three new echocardiogram machines to support the cardiac programs of both campuses of the Rouge Valley Health System.
In each edition of the Community Giving this year, we will share more news about these efforts and the many ways donors like yourself are helping make a difference at our two hospitals. We hope we can count on your continued support throughout 2011, because your generous contributions and encouragement make it all possible.
Dave Stell,
RVHSF Communications Specialist
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H O S P I T A L S T O R I E S
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Positive changes for Ajax and Pickering hospital
The Tim Horton's at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering (RVAP) hospital has moved from the third floor to its new home in the brand-new Harwood Bistro, located on the ground floor. Patients, families and visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers are invited to come and relax in this new space. The Harwood Bistro can be accessed by the east elevators, or from the stairwell leading into the dining room. An official grand opening is being planned for the weeks ahead.
Also of note, the RVAP ambulatory care unit (ACU) and pre-operative assessment clinic (PAC) have moved to their new home on the ground floor of the hospital. The medical rapid referral clinic (MRRC) and pain consult clinic have also relocated to the new ACU, as has the admitting clerk.
Patients scheduled for surgical procedures at RVAP should note that the ACU and PAC are now on the ground floor, near the east elevators. New signage is in place to safely guide you to this department, or you can rely on Auxiliary volunteers to help direct you.
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| D O N O R S T O R I E S |
Oshawa Legion throws its support behind Ajax MRI campaign
The Royal Canadian Legion has a long and proud history of supporting their communities and the Image is Everything campaign is pleased to welcome support from Branch 637 in north Oshawa, which is making a
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Myrna Picotte thanked the Oshawa Legion for making the donation to the Image is Everything Campaign, Dec. 20.
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$7,100 donation to help bring an MRI to Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital. The members of the North Oshawa branch know that many people,including the veterans and seniors who call Durham home, rely on the Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital for their health care. "The Royal Canadian Legion has been an integral part of the Durham community, and I am very proud that the North Oshawa branch is supporting this great MRI campaign. My hope is that this Legion branch is the first of many who will also support this important project at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital," says Myrna Picotte, Past President, Royal Canadian Legion, Ajax branch, and member of the Image is Everything Community Committee.
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Polar Bear Swim raises cool cash to help bring an MRI to Ajax, Pickering
The Polar Bear Swim enthusiasts of Ajax came out in full force on New Year's Day and the results were fantastic.
 | | From left, Jennifer Collins, Eric and Adam Novak, Peter Gos, Bob Murray, Sherry Robinson and Tracy Paterson, stayed dry, if not warm, as they celebrated a cheque presentation from the Ajax Polar Bear Swim to the Image is Everything Campaign, on Jan. 12. |
Along with nice weather, the folks involved in the swim enjoyed great success in fundraising, collecting $2,382 for the Image is Everything Campaign. Peter Gos, Bob Murray and Eric Novak are the drivers behind the event and together selected the Image is Everything Campaign as their recipient. Eric explained their philosophy on the fundraising side of the event. "(The funds) won't get us the MRI (alone), but every step in the right direction helps, and we're happy to do our part," he said, "even if it meant freezing my you know what off in the process!" The event received great TV coverage, appearing on a CTV newscast and CP24 the same day. Congratulations to the Ajax Polar Bear Swim organizers and the Foundation would like to express its great appreciation for the funds and the publicity for the cause. A great way to start off 2011!
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Members of the congregation of Our Lady of Lebanon delivered their gift of toys to the staff of the paediatric department, on Dec. 23.
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Children in hospital over the holidays
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Michelle Nash, receptionist and Jodi Smith, veterinary technician, made the donation on behalf of the Ajax Animal Hospital.
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received in kind gifts
Along with a number of donations recognized in our last edition of 2010, we would like to acknowledge a number of other generous groups who donated toys for children staying in hospital. The staff at Ajax Animal Hospital visited on Dec. 9 to deliver toys to the Ajax-Pickering campus purchased with proceeds of their holiday raffle. The Bell Community Affairs volunteer team initiated a toy drive to support young patients in Rouge Valley and Lakeridge hospitals. Employees were encouraged to help support and bring toys into the office, one of many community initiatives throughout the year.  | |
The friendly team at Aeropostale show their red-hooded teddy bears.
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A delegation of members of Our Lady of Lebanon parish visited RVAP to make a largedonation of gifts from the congregation.This annual donation was a special event for Roy Houkayem, among the group who came to the hospital for the event. He described his memories of being at the hospital for his appendix over the Christmas holiday as a young child, about 10 years ago. Now 18, he remembers the lasting impact it madeon him to
 | | Mare and Susan from Follow The Sun. |
receive a toy during hisstay. Today he is very pleased to give back. Also of note, Follow the Sun tanning salon and Aeropostale presented gifts of toys and teddy bears to the Foundation to distribute to children in the hospital. Aeropostale in the Pickering Town Centre donated teddy bears with red hoods. All of the donations were shared between hospital departments such as emergency,surgical, fracture clinic, laboratory and paediatrics. Our thanks to all of those who made toy and game donations to the children of our hospitals this past holiday season.
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| V O L U N T E E R S T O R I E S |
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Foundation Board members Ann and Gord Moore hosted a cocktail party in 2010 and will be doing so again this year, to support To Rouge with Love. Among their guests last year were Board Chair Jim Ward and his wife Jennifer.
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To Rouge with Love returns
The week before Valentine's Day will be a truly heartfelt celebration at homes in Scarborough, Pickering, and Ajax as hosts gather family,
friends and colleagues to celebrate Heart Month, Valentine's Day, and a new campaign to purchase much needed echocardiogram machines for the Rouge Valley Health System. A series of 'To Rouge With Love' cocktail fundraisers are being hosted by local volunteers. This is the second year for the event, which last year raised $20,000 for cardiac care at Rouge Valley. Guests make a minimum $100 donation when they attend and have the opportunity to meet and hear from cardiologists and other leaders in Rouge Valley's regional cardiac care program.
This year we have 11 hosts raising funds and awareness of Rouge Valley's leadership in cardiac care. To volunteer as a host, make a donation to the "Echo" campaign or for more information, please email Ros Sagar-Lal or she can be reached by phone at 416-281-7463.
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Doreen Evans, Image is Everything Gala silent auction co-chair, inspects
one of the special bottles of wine up for grabs at this year's event.
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Image is Everything Gala coming together for dedicated volunteers
Doreen Evans is hard at work for this year's Image is Everything Gala. Co-Chair of the Silent Auction Committee, Doreen is actively collecting and soliciting donations for that popular portion of the annual Gala which this year supports the MRI campaign for RVAP.  | | Image is Everything |
Doreen is a longtime volunteer with the Foundation, having been involved in several Foundation events, including the past five Galas. "I really enjoy working with the Foundation staff and the other volunteers," she says. "I like to volunteer and I really enjoy the Gala." When it comes to the items she is looking for to populate the auction tables, Doreen explains that, while wine, electronics, and sporting event tickets are popular, the committee will take nearly any type of donation. "Things that you can't actually buy are wonderful, for example the Durham Regional Police donate a certificate for a one-hour fly-along on their Air 1 helicopter, so experiences that really have no price tag are excellent," she says. "Restaurant gift certificates are also very popular." Items have already started to come in from regular donors and she's excited to have a selection of wines and a Nintendo Wii. But much more is needed. If you have a donation to make, please contact the Foundation office at 905-683-2320 ext. 1501 or 416-281-7342.
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| P A T I E N T S T O R I E S | Going the extra mile for our patients
Rouge Valley is very proud to have some of the best staff, physicians and volunteers around. They often go beyond the call of duty to provide our patients with the quality care they have come to expect from us. But it's always an added bonus when our patients tell us how wonderful our community hospital is.
On Jan. 6, one of our staff members made a particularly positive impact on Susan Phillips the wife of day surgery patient Barry, at Rouge Valley Centenary. In a voicemail message left for the manager of security and parking, Ms. Phillips described how George Browne, security charge officer, went beyond the call:
'I am calling to commend George who was on security last night. I'm handicapped, I wear braces and I have two canes. I had been here since 6 a.m. since my husband's surgery was very early in the morning, and I wasn't prepared for the storm that followed. I had no boots, I had no hat and I couldn't even clean my car off. The nurses wouldn't let me go home [on my own] and they called George. He came and got me and took me downstairs, and he cleaned my car off for me. He started it, warmed it up, brought a blanket from my car to put around me. This man was phenomenal! I don't know what I would have done without him. I might have had to leave my car here. So thank you so much for him. It was beyond job description. You should be very proud of him, that you hired such a man. He is just out of this world. I actually went downstairs to the Foundation and made a donation in George's honour because I have never met anyone like that."
Susan also added her great thanks to the nurses and Barry's doctor who provided great care. "Dr. Singer was excellent...(and) the nurses are just as merry as a riot," she said. "They are lovely and have a sense of humour. We were so pleased, I've never had an experience like that before."
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| F U N D R A I S I N G E V E N T S |
Big Band Valentine's Bash
Beat the mid-winter blues and come dance to the sounds of the Swing Shift Big Band, a fabulous concert of big band jazz, with 17 musicians and vocalists. Tickets $20 pp until Jan. 31
Date: Sunday, Feb. 13 Time: 2 to 4:30 p.m.
For: Proceeds to the Echo Campaign
Location: QSSIS Banquet Halls, 3474 Kingston Rd., Scarborough
ServiceMaster hosting Dunlops hockey game
Date: Saturday, Feb. 19 Time: 6:30 p.m.
For: Tickets are $7 with the Whitby Dunlops donating $5 from each ticket toward the Image Is Everything MRI Campaign. Tailgate party at Baton Rouge in Whitby from 4 to 6 p.m. with a silent auction table.
Location: Game, Iroquois Park Sports Complex in Whitby,
Baton Rouge, 25 Consumers Drive, Whitby
Contact: Heather Montague, 905-683-2320 x1501
To Rouge With Love
Date: February 7 to 13
For: Cocktail events to celebrate Valentine's Day and healthy hearts. Proceeds to support fundraising campaign for echocardiogram machines. Become a host today!
Contact: Roselyn Sagar-Lal 416-281-7463 Image is Everything Gala Date: Friday, March 25 For: RVAP MRI Image is Everything campaign Location: Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility Contact: Heather Montague, 905-683-2320 x1501 Margaret Birch Anniversary/Birthday Open HouseDate: June 23, 2011 Location: Rouge Valley Centenary Contact: Carole Chabot, 416-281-7462
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