Seasons Greetings YMM!
The holiday season is here and it reminds us that another year is quickly coming to a close. Looking back on 2017, we here at the Northern Lights Health Foundation are extremely grateful for what the year has brought us and it was an exciting one indeed!
While the beginning of the year began with uncertainty due to the economy and as our community continued to rebuild their homes, lives and businesses, there was one thing we were certain of; the residents of Fort McMurray are resilient. We are very fortunate to live in such a generous and compassionate community and because of you we have so much to be thankful for this holiday season.
Throughout the year, your commitment to enhancing local health care enabled us to achieve significant milestones in our Gratitude Campaign as well as fund other important programs, services, and technology here in Wood Buffalo.
On March 18th, our 30th annual Spring Fling, presented by Syncrude Canada Ltd., raised a record $205,000 for local health care.
On March 31st, the Northern Lights Health Foundation signed 2 historic MOU’s (Memorandum of Understanding) with Alberta Health Services which initiated the planning stages for the Palliative Care Suites and Minimally Invasive Suites projects.
The 3rd Annual Jeremy Snook Memorial Raffle raised an additional $115,000 to bring the total raised to $313,388 over three years and the $1.5 million Palliative Care Suites project is now fully funded.
Upgrades to the Public Health Clinics in Anzac and Conklin were completed this fall thanks to funding from Canadian Natural Resources Limited and CNOOC Nexen.
Donor funds provided for a Youth Mental Health Navigator position that was filled in 2017. This means our region’s vulnerable youth have better access to mental health resources when they need them.
Operating Rooms, Diagnostic Imaging, Allied Health, Pediatrics and other departments received over $177,000 in funding for tools, services, and programs to improve the health care experience for residents in Wood Buffalo.
As we close out the year and look forward to 2018, we remain focused on our Gratitude Campaign and specifically fundraising for the Minimally Invasive Surgical Suites project. These suites will dramatically change how and what types of surgery can be performed right here at home. But most of all this season, we are thankful. We are thankful for our dedicated supporters, donors, sponsors, and volunteers; both corporate and individual. We are thankful to see our community starting to thrive again.
From all of us at the Northern Lights Health Foundation, we wish you and your family a safe and joyous holiday season filled with peace and good health.
P.S. Don’t forget tax season is just around the corner! There is still time to make a charitable donation in yours or a loved one’s name and receive a tax receipt for 2017 income tax purposes. Go to www.northernlightshealthfoundation.ca or call our office at 780-791-6178.
