2011 Donor Impact Report - Charity Focus

Grateful Patients,Families andResidentsWhen patients receiveexceptional care,they often look for ameaningful way to showtheir appreciation. CalgaryHealth Trust’s GratefulPatients, Residents &Families program allowsthem to do just that.We work very closelywith our donors to ensurethat their donations aredirected to the programsthat they are mostpassionate about. Formany, even a short staycan have a tremendousimpact on their lives orthe lives of their families,and what better way tosay “Thank You” than bygiving back to those whoprovided exceptional care.Sweetly SpeakingIt wasn’t an easy road that connected Barbara Forster toSweetly Speaking, but the care she received along the waymade her want to give back.When Barbara’s husband,Tony, passed away suddenlyon Mother’s Day 2009, shewas left with a broken heartand Tony’s unfulfilled dreamto make chocolate. That iswhy Barbara sought out andbought Sweetly Speaking.“In memory ofTony, who hada love affair withchocolate,”explains Barbara.But she wasn’t content withjust selling chocolates. “WhenTony passed away from aheart attack, I couldn’t havereceived more incrediblesupport from the staff atFoothills Medical Centre.Though my husband haddied before he arrivedat the hospital, they tookevery measure to save him,gave me a private room togrieve and took care of me.I wanted some way ofsaying thank you.”So Barbara set to work doingwhat she does best – “Wesold chocolate pizzas anddonated the profits to CalgaryHealth Trust in support ofemergency and cardiacprograms. It wasn’t much,but it was my way of sayingthank you.” Calgary HealthTrust also tested Barbara’screative spirit by asking herto make over 800 chocolatedisco balls for A Cure forDisco Fever.If you are lucky, you can findBarbara’s chocolates (with notrans fats) in the hospitals acouple days a month.“It brings joy to the patientsand nurses,” she said. “Andthat’s why we keep doing itfor them.”“I couldn’t havehad moreincrediblecompassion thanI did whenmy husbandpassed away. Iwanted some wayto say thank you.”– Barbara ForsterIt all adds up“I wanted to give back to theplace and people that helpedme when I got sick,” saidJack, a Calgary Health Trustmonthly donor for four years.Our donors come in allshapes and sizes, just likeour donations. It is not thesize of the gift that matters.Every penny helps to makea difference for our healthcare system.For Jack, monthly givingis a way to say thank youto those who helped him.Each month, Jack makes a$10 contribution to supportFoothills Medical Centre. Overthe years, his contributionto health care in our city hasaccumulated to $720.We are so grateful to ourmany donors like Jack. Theircontinued support over theyears has impacted the livesof countless people every day.Monthly donations add up, making a significant impact forpatients and their families over time.10 Calgary Health Trust