"We are all excited about the prospect of new facilities, new programs, new jobs for our community. These are great things to be excited about, however, there is more," says Drew Gunsolus, Chair, Caring for Tomorrow campaign. "Ross Memorial Hospital is about exceptional care and the people who provide the care, the staff and physicians who time and again go above and beyond. Together, we have raised $6.461 million not only towards a new hospital but also to help staff and physicians by providing a better place to work, to supply the resources, the space and the tools to do their jobs even better and more effectively. It is also going towards the patients and their families, providing them with a place of comfort in their time of need. Caring for Tomorrow isn't really about bricks and mortar, it's more about heart and will - lives saved and lives changed through the extraordinary people who make the Ross more than just a hospital."

On hand to echo these sentiments was D.S. Low, Director of Public Relations for General Motors. "General Motors of Canada Limited is proud to announce today our donation of $200,000 to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation's Caring for Tomorrow campaign. The excellent reputation of Ross Memorial Hospital stands on its own."

"As the largest employer in the Kawartha Lakes District, General Motors recognizes the benefit that the community, as well as seasonal visitors, will derive from the expansion of Ross Memorial Hospital," continues D.S. Low. "We congratulate Ross Memorial on surpassing the campaign target, and thank them for including General Motors of Canada in this most important project."

The campaign was officially launched in June with the goal of raising $6 million in local funds. At that time, pledges and gifts had already totalled $4.2 million.

Caring for Tomorrow - while it has been a campaign to raise funds to support the expansion at Ross Memorial, it has also, and more importantly, been an overwhelming show of community spirit. The campaign has been marked by many instances of exceptional generosity of many donors making the largest charitable gifts of their lives.

"Caring for tomorrow today," explains Drew Gunsolus, "is really what this campaign is all about. Ross Memorial is about to embark on a major expansion of its services and facilities and community support has always been an integral part of the growth and development of Ross Memorial. Today, this tradition of giving is more than evident. We have surpassed our campaign goal because of the generosity of individuals in our community."

Recently, Ross Memorial received approval from the Ministry of Health to tender the construction for its major capital expansion project. The tender process will take approximately five to six weeks and the results will then be forwarded to the Ministry of Health for approval to award the construction contract to the successful bidder. This project will include:

• a doubling in size of the Emergency Department;
• a new mental health facility for a new 15-bed inpatient and 8-place day hospital program;
• a new 75-bed wing that will include Complex Continuing Care, Rehabilitation and Palliative Care;
• the development of a new outpatient centre;
• the construction of an additional inpatient unit for 23 new beds; and
• a new, permanent suite for the Hospital's CT scanner.

Upon completion, Ross Memorial's bed capacity will increase from 156 beds to 218. As well, the Hospital will increase in size from its current 186,000 square feet to 305,000 square feet. Additionally, there will be renovations to 20,000 square feet of the existing building.

"The Caring for Tomorrow campaign is vitally important to the to the continued development and increase of health care services in this community," says Brenda DeKoker, Chair, Ross Memorial Hospital Board of Governors. "Not only will we have a new Hospital, with new facilities to provide new services, we will also have an opportunity to advance patient care and the expansion will have a positive economic impact at the local level."

Additionally, the new Ross Memorial will:

• provide 100 new full-time positions within the Hospital;
• provide new beds and services that are not currently available in the community;
• attract new physicians and specialists to the Hospital and the area; and
• attract prospective new residents and businesses to the area.

"I am proud to be part of this community, to have been able to help out with this campaign and to be able to be here today celebrating," says Brenda DeKoker. "With this huge local outpouring of support, our goal is in sight and the promise of a bigger and better Ross Memorial is just around the corner. Thank you."