"Good Tidings We Bring" - Foundation launches Christmas Appeal

The Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation is pleased to launch the annual Christmas Appeal. This year, the Appeal letter, which is mailed to every household in the City of Kawartha Lakes, outlines the need for vascular technology for the Hospital's CT unit.

The Foundation is pleased to have Radiologist, Dr. Juliet Franczyk and Emergency Physician, Dr. Tom Stefopolus, on board with this fundraising project. These physicians have a unique perspective when they discuss the need for this CT module. Each understands its value as it provides enhanced detail on a patient's image, which allows for a faster diagnosis. But, more importantly, each appreciates the value of the technology as a patient. Both Dr. Franczyk and Dr. Stefopolus experienced a "subarachnoid hemorrhage", and had to undergo a vascular scan to identify the hemorrhage in order to treat it. 

Vascular CT imaging provides excellent image quality, giving our physicians the ability to reconstruct, visualize, rotate and measure vessels involved in disease or trauma, in the shortest possible time. It provides a roadmap of the body without invasive procedures.

Dr. Stefopolus knows first hand how vivid the vascular imaging is: "I got a CT scan right away, but because I needed a CT angiogram, which would show the location of the hemorrhage in more detail, I had to be transferred to Toronto. While I was recovering there, the doctors showed me my CT scan. It was unbelievable! The detail shows you the 3D picture of the brain's circulation. I could see my own blood vessels. It's quite amazing."

The theme of the Christmas Appeal is "good tidings we bring". Each letter includes a special ornament, shaped like an envelope, upon which donors may write get well wishes to patients. These ornaments are sent back to the hospital with our donors' gifts, and are hung on the Christmas trees in the main lobby for everyone to see and enjoy.

Erin Coons, Executive Director of the RMH Foundation, says the goal of the Christmas Appeal is to raise $140,000 to purchase the vascular CT module. "We're so pleased to have the support of both Dr. Franczyk and Dr. Stefopolus with this Appeal. Their stories are truly inspiring. With their help, and with the support of the community, we know we'll bring good tidings to people this holiday."

Click here to read the Christmas Appeal letter.

RMH Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary! 

In China, it takes 20 years to become a master painter, or a master potter. In Cuba, only those who have worked 20 years creating the best cigars in the world can become a Master Torcedor. It takes 20 years to grow a tree ... and to raise a child. Warren Buffet says it takes 20 years to build a reputation.

It's little wonder, given the work and the value that goes into those 20 years, that the recommended gift for a 20th anniversary contains a touch of platinum. Platinum is very rare and is more valuable than gold or silver. 

As a result, platinum signifies quality. An artist saves only his best works for a "platinum collection". So on the RMH Foundation's platinum anniversary, it's fitting to look back at the works that have made the Foundation a success. From 1989 to 2009, it's our platinum collection.

Philanthropy was the fundamental key to moving forward at Ross Memorial Hospital from its inception in 1902 when James Ross made the original gift of a local hospital, until 1989 when the RMH Foundation was incorporated. And thanks to donors, philanthropy continues to be the key to the hospital's success.

When major renovations were required in 1997, it was donations from the public that made it possible. The "Make Us Better" redevelopment included a new Maternal Newborn Unit, an enhanced Intensive Care Unit, and improvements on both the Surgical and Medical Units. The cost of these enhancements, $4.5 million, was completely funded by public donations. What an outstanding achievement - and what an inspiration to the Ross team.

It was the very next year, as the Hospital continued to battle with funding cuts and bed closures, that the Health Services Restructuring Commission released its report on health services throughout the province, and ruled in favour of expanding and enhancing the Ross yet again.

The "Caring for Tomorrow" campaign was launched in 2002 and the Hospital broke ground on what would be a $49 million expansion, doubling the size of the Hospital.
Construction included a new Continuing Care wing with new Palliative Care and Rehabilitation programs, a new outpatient centre and additional acute inpatient beds. A Mental Health program was established, and the Emergency Department doubled in size.

The goal of the Foundation's "Caring for Tomorrow" campaign was $6 million, but as construction continued, excitement spread, and by the time the expansion was completed in 2005, more than $7 million in local donations had been pledged.

The dust had barely settled from the expansion project, when the need for local dialysis treatments service became dire. The Peterborough dialysis services had maxed out their capacity, but patient need continued to grow.

Once again, donors answered the call. In 2007, the Hospital opened a temporary Dialysis Unit that would help to serve local patients until a new 15-station Dialysis Unit could be constructed, and the Foundation launched the "On the Horizon" campaign. The goal was to raise $2.2 million toward the total cost of the project. The new unit opened a year ago, and now serves more than 50 local dialysis patients - saving them long drives for treatments in other communities.

This history can be read on the donor recognition walls, located throughout the Hospital. The names on the plaques stand as a testament to the generosity of this community.

Our platinum collection culminates with a spotlight shining on one exceptional accomplishment: since 1989, the RMH Foundation has turned over $23,042,754 to Ross Memorial Hospital for capital projects, equipment and education!

For more information, or to make a donation, please call 328-6146 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it