"For as long as we have been in business, we have been in the business of community building," says Paul McPherson, Manager, Personal Financial Services, RBC Royal Bank. "We are proud of this partnership. Through our support of Ross Memorial Hospital we believe we can make a difference in the life of this community."

"We are truly appreciative of this gift from Royal Bank," says Drew Gunsolus, Chair, Caring for Tomorrow Campaign. "We are encouraged by the enthusiasm and dedication of Royal Bank to Ross Memorial, our community and to the future of health care in the City of Kawartha Lakes."

In June 2001, the Hospital Foundation launched its capital campaign, Caring for Tomorrow, in support of the expansion project. At the launch, the Foundation announced that gifts and pledges already totalled $4.225 million of the campaign's $6 million goal in local funds. At the campaign close in December 2001, the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation proudly announced that the campaign surpassed its goal, raising $6.461 million.

The expansion of Ross Memorial will be truly invaluable to the community," explains Paul McPherson, "and because our staff live and work in this community, the decision to support Ross Memorial was a natural one. It is our belief that by contributing our funds, network, leadership and that by encouraging and celebrating the involvement of our people, we can make a difference."

"This project will have many positive effects on the community," explains Drew Gunsolus, "including a very positive economic impact to the local economy. The project will create a one-time local impact of about $27 million. Once built, the additional volumes of patient care will result in local economic impact of more than $26 million each year in the future."

In addition, the Hospital's expansion will provide approximately 100 new full-time positions within the Hospital, and will attract new physicians and specialists to the Hospital and the area, as well as prospective new residents and businesses to the area.

Ross Memorial's expansion will include the doubling in size of the Emergency Department, a new mental health facility, a new Complex Continuing Care wing that will accommodate Rehabilitation and Palliative Care, a new outpatient centre, more inpatient beds and a new suite for the CT scanner.

RBC Financial Group has one of the leading community care programs in Canada and is a founding member of the Imagine program. In 2001, RBC Financial Group donated more than $9.7 million to over 800 charities in Ontario, and more than $34 million in donations around the world, in areas such as education, healthcare, and support for the arts. RBC has been named "Canada's Most Socially Responsible Corporation" for six consecutive years in the annual Report on Business poll on Canada's Most Respected Corporations. Royal Bank of Canada (TSE, NYSE: RY) uses the initials RBC as a prefix for its businesses and operating subsidiaries, which operate under the master brand name of RBC Financial Group. For more information, please visit www.rbc.com.