THUNDER BAY -- In 30 years, the Fort William Rotary House Lottery has given millions of dollars back to the community.
It’s been an invaluable fundraiser said Tracey Nieckarz, chairwoman of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Foundation’s board of directors.
Without outside funding, the hospital would be left scrambling to cover all of its costs, she said.
“Health care in our communities across Ontario is not fully funded by government,” Nieckarz said. “There is a large component of the cost, particularly the capital costs for equipment that comes from the support of donors and clubs like the Fort William Rotary.”
The Rotary Club has pledged $500,000 to the foundation’s excellence in cancer care program. In the past donations have helped pave the way for a number of initiatives, including the recently installed cyclotron that this year began producing medical isotopes.
Certainly a $487,000, 1,700 sq. ft. home is a nice grand prize carrot to dangle in front of the public, but the lottery’s success over the past three decades is a testament to the generosity of Thunder Bay residents.
“There’s the expression that Thunder Bay has a giant heart, and it definitely does. We notice that with our donors,” she said.
“People recognize the importance of being able to have care close to home, not having to travel in order to get the type of health care that they need. And our community has been very supportive of initiatives such as these.”
This year’s home, as always, is state-of-the-art, equipped with granite kitchen countertops, high-efficiency air conditioning and heating systems, five appliances.
The three-bedroom home, located on Silverstone Place off Wardrope Avenue, also contains two four-piece bathrooms and a two-car, heated garage.
Rotary president Bev Knudsen said the community has continued to support the draw because of the good the money raised does.
On Tuesday she presented the foundation with a cheque worth more than $129,000, along with an additional $25,000 to the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation.
“People realize the money stays in this area and there are so many organizations it helps,” Knudsen said. “Every person, I like to think, in Thunder Bay is affected by these organizations we donate to – not personally, but they may use the hospital – or they may have friends or families that might make use of the resources.
In addition to the grand prize, which will be drawn for during Canada Day celebrations at Marina Park, there are 10 weekly early-bird draws worth $5,000.
Tickets can be found at a number of business outlets around town and open house will be held at the house each Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
