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To all of our donors celebrating tonight and tomorrow, we wish you a Merry Christmas and hope it is a blessed time with family.
The Foundation has been overwhelmed once again this year with the incredible generosity of the people of the Scarborough, Ajax and Pickering communities. Along with many people making an annual donation to support the best patient care at Rouge Valley, there have been several toy drives by a number of individuals and groups in recent weeks, to make the holidays a little brighter for children in hospital.
Not only does this type of giving lift the spirits of the young patients, it brings many smiles to the staff in the hospital who see the long term positive effects the toys have on the healing process for kids in their care. It's wonderful to have this type of support and everyone at Rouge Valley is grateful for your generosity.
Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas holiday,
Chad Hanna, President & CEO, Rouge Valley Health System Foundation
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E V E N T N E W S
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Tree brings smiles to Rouge Valley
 If you haven't visited RVAP this month, it is worth dropping by the cafeteria auditorium, which is shining brighter than ever thanks to a beautifully decorated 10-foot Christmas tree.
A celebration was held Dec. 10 to recognize the tree being gifted to RVAP, donated by the Apostolopoulos family, the winning bidders in the live auction at this year's Pickering Mayor's Gala. Mayor Dave Ryan was on hand to thank the Apostolopoulos family for supporting the Gala, along with the tree's decorating designer, Sandra Cassidy, a volunteer on the Gala organizing committee. The tree will be on display into the new year. See more pictures here.
Pictured: Members of the Apostolopoulos family, Steve, Peter and their mother Joanna, listen as Mayor Dave Ryan thanked them at the event.
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T O Y D R I V E D O N O R N E W S
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Sense of security 
The security staff at Scarborough Town Centre held a toy drive that resulted in a tremendous collection of new toys for the children receiving care at Rouge Valley Centenary.
The staff collected cash donations that were matched by Oxford Properties, and then went on a shopping spree that resulted in a room full of toys for the paediatrics unit. Staff on the floor were greatly moved by the thoughtful donation and children on the floor that day received a toy, with the rest to be handed out to kids throughout the year as needed. See all of the pictures here.
Pictured: STC security guards Austin, Hiroto, Zeshaan, Jermine and Neil presented some toys to little Firdaus, a patient in the Paediatrics Unit.
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Gracie's Cabbagetown Toy Drive
 The 71st year of the annual Cabbagetown Toy Drive, started in 1943 by William Crewe and his brother, Thomas Crewe, was held this year on November 29. The drive is held through a dance with the admission being an age appropriate toy. The tradition is carried on by Thomas's son, Tom Crewe jr and was held at the Royal Canadian Legion at Victoria Park and St Clair this year. Through Grace Watson, the toys this year were donated to the Children's Oncology Department at Rouge Valley Centenary.
Pictured: Grace Watson, a member of staff at Rouge Valley, who also celebrated her 80th birthday this month! |
Toy drive honours memory of mother
Chris Black, a security guard at RVAP, recently donated a collection of toys in memory of his Mother, Margaret Black, who passed away December 25, 2010, after a valiant battle with cancer.  | | Margaret Black |
According to Chris, Christmas was his mother's favourite time of year and the family decided the best way to honour her was to donate to help other families going through a tough time during the holiday season. Chris chose RVAP because in the 16 months he has been here, he says, "I have witnessed the amazing work that all levels of staff do on a day-to-day basis and often under tremendous stress and very difficult circumstances. The care they give, not only to the patients but families and friends, is what sets them apart. And if my family and I were going to donate toys to any Hospital, RVHS was the easy choice." He added they plan to donate toys again next year in honour of their mom as she always loved kids and did all she could to teach, guide and help them during her life.
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Have a Beary Merry Christmas
 The Scarborough Mirror's Beary Merry Christmas campaign returned to Rouge Valley Centenary hospital with the staff delivering new teddy bears to patients and parents in NICU, the Birthing and Newborn Centre, Paediatrics, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and Emergency units at RVC, on Dec. 22.
Pictured: Staff at RVC give a special thanks to Leema, Marilyn and Mirror photographer Nick (not pictured), for coming by to deliver the stuffies.
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Firefighters bring smiles to kids
 The Pickering Professional Firefighters Association is an amazing supporter of their community hospital!
Each year a group of these firefighters visit Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital at Christmas time to deliver toys to children in hospital during the holidays. Along with the gifts handed out on Dec. 22 this year, more were left to be distributed by hospital staff in several units to kids as they come through.
Thank you to the firefighters and a few of their own kids who came along to help. The kids in hospital were grateful to receive a toy and staff at the hospital explain that having a toy helps calm down children when they are having difficulty coping with being in hospital. See more pictures here.
Pictured: Pickering Firefighters and a few young family members, delivered and helped distribute a big pile of toys on December 22.
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V O L U N T E E R N E W S
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Rotary carol singers visit RVAP
 The Rotary Club of Ajax brought Santa Claus and some fabulous singing elves to Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering on December 22 and created a festive atmosphere for patients. Pictured: The Rotary Club of Ajax singers were a big hit with patients as they toured the hospital.
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Bountiful bake sale draws a crowd
 The Auxiliary to Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering held its annual Christmas Bake Sale recently and had one of their best sales ever, raising nearly $1,000.
The sale features baked goods from Auxiliary members and hospital staff and is always popular. Funds raised in the sale go toward Auxiliary activities such as donations the group make to support new equipment for the hospital, through the Foundation.
Pictured: Jean "The Tart Lady" (at right) helps Sue, one of the many customers that came by the Auxiliary bake table.
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P L A N N E D G I V I N G N E W S
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If you would like information about Estate Planning, please don't hesitate to contact Mary Slavik, Director, Planned Giving at 905-683-2320, ext. 1956, or mslavik@rougevalley.ca.
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H O S P I T A L N E W S
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My Rouge Valley Baby 
Having a baby is one of the most precious and memorable occasions in the lives of all growing families. Now in a series of short videos, four families are telling their treasured stories of when they had their babies at Rouge Valley Health System.
Click the image to see Michelle's story and find out why Rouge Valley is a wonderful place to have your baby.
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We do not rent, sell, or trade our mailing lists. The information you provide will be used to deliver services and to keep you informed and up to date on the activities of the Foundation. If at any time you wish to be removed from our mailing lists, simply contact us by phone (416) 281-7342 or (905) 683-2320 extension 1501. |
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