THUNDER BAY – Giving Tuesday far exceeded expectations at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
In fact, thanks to the generosity of the community, they were able to nearly double their $25, 561 ask to purchase a defibrillator for the operating room, bringing in $50,006. Not only will Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre get its defibrillator, the excess funds will go a long way toward the next items on their $136,000 wish list, a fetal telemetry monitor and infant warmer for the labour and delivery departments as well as a portable ultrasound for the renal department.
It’s was a fantastic 24 hours of fundraising said the foundation’s e-philanthropy officer Lindsay Doran.
“I really didn’t know what to expect going into this Giving Tuesday,” Doran said.
“You never do. It seems like the defibrillator really connected with people. What we were fundraising for really resonated, because when people were dropping by with donations, calling in donations, we were hearing a lot of stories of why they were donating – stories of their loved ones being cared for in the hospital and lives being saved with the defibrillator.”
The result speaks volumes about the generosity of Thunder Bay residents, Doran added.
“We raised more this year than we raised in previous years. Every year we do Giving Tuesday it seems to go up and up, because I think the word’s just getting out there that today is a day to give. I think the same thing can be said for organizations across Thunder Bay that did Giving Tuesday,” Doran said.
“It’s just something people are really getting on board with. For us, we almost doubled our goal and it was just incredible.”
Franco and Kelly Veneruzzo, whose son Giovanni was born just six weeks ago, were on hand to help the hospital celebrate.
Having spent two days in the hospital while their son was being born, Franco Veneruzzo said the hospital plays a central role in the community and the amount brought in shows just how important it is to those who live in Thunder Bay.
“It’s great,” he said. “Northern communities have a tendency to take care of ourselves and are very generous. I think it’s the nature of living up north. It’s great to now when you walk into the Regional that everything is here and we have the equipment.”
Giving Tuesday returns were boosted by several individuals who pledged to match donation amounts, including Maurice and Jackie Black who gave $6,000, the estate of Beatrix Anderson, which provided $5,000, and Graham and Nancy Post, Sam and Pina Augruso, John Collins and an anonymous donor, who each agreed to match $1,000.
Donations for the remaining items on the Christmas wish list can be made at www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/wishlist or by phoning 345-4673.
