Foundations in the Interior region raise funds that support medical equipment, care needs, and innovative local initiatives in their communities. Each organization includes respected community leaders, volunteers and staff who are passionate about meeting the needs of patients and families in Interior Health. Thanks to the generosity of their supporters, we all have a stronger health system.
In this next story of our series on the incredible health-care and hospital foundations throughout our region, we interviewed Fiona Harris, director of development at Shuswap Hospital Foundation.
How long have you been with the Foundation?
Fiona: I joined the Foundation as the director of development in 2013. As we are a small foundation, this role provides the opportunity to do meaningful work: creating and managing fundraising activities, developing fundraising strategies, working with donors and ensuring efficient management of Foundation resources for the betterment of health care within our community.
Tell us about the focus of your Foundation and the importance of what you do.
Fiona: The Shuswap Hospital Foundation raises funds to ensure high-quality health care by funding priority equipment and facility upgrades at Shuswap Lake General Hospital and other medical facilities in Salmon Arm.
Working with Interior Health, we help to maintain high standards of medical care by supporting the services that are needed at medical facilities. Through our fundraising, we help bring those services to people in the community sooner. The Foundation helps to bring health care closer to home, which is so important. New equipment also supports staff in providing the best patient care.
Why did you want to work with the Foundation?
Fiona: I’ve always enjoyed connecting with people and supporting the community. When the opportunity to work with the Foundation came up, it felt like the right fit for me. I really enjoy the fundraising, connecting with many areas within our community and being a part of making a real difference in the lives of patients in our area.
‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ is on my signature line and I try to live by that assertion. I also like to live by the words ‘Do it now.’ When something needs to be done, I like to get it done right away.
Do you have any favourite fundraising campaigns current and past?
Fiona: We are so fortunate to live in a very caring and generous community, and we’ve had many successful fundraisers over the years. One that really stands out to me is the Bollywood Bang event, which was brought to us by one of our board members, Sunny Dhaliwal. Sunny and his team have project-managed this and it has proven to be one of our largest fundraising events. In the three Bollywood Bang events we’ve held, more than $1 million dollars has been raised. From the proceeds of the 2023 event, we were able to raise enough money in one night to fund the creation of the ambulatory care unit. This new unit is now up and running very well at SLGH and takes significant pressure off the emergency department.
Another notable fundraising campaign was for a new CT scanner and mammography unit. We raised $3.3 million in just 19 months.
Is there a particular donation over the years that stands out?
Fiona: We’ve had many great fundraising campaigns over the years and some very generous people donating to the Foundation. But some of the donations that really stand out are the estate donations we have received. These donations come from people who are leaving a legacy of better health care for their community. By bequeathing funds in their estates to help raise the bar on the level of care, they have been instrumental in bringing excellent health care closer to home, now and into the future.
What are the Foundation’s total donations to IH to date?
Fiona: Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has funded more than $6.8 million in equipment and upgrades. The largest equipment upgrade was the new CT scanner and mammography unit which the Foundation funded $3.3 million of the $4.4 million total cost.
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