2011 Donor Impact Report - Charity Focus

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Running for a reasonSeven years ago onMother’s Day, Todd Birss,General Manager for ForzaniFoundation, had twin boysborn four months premature.Just over a pound each,the boys spent almost fourmonths in the NeonatalIntensive Care Unit (NICU) andSpecial Care Nursery.He credits the amazingdoctors and nurses whohelped them through their stayon the unit, but there weretimes when the twins neededemergency tests or the use ofmachines and only one wasavailable or there was a wait.“It’s hard to think that an infantcouldn’t have emergency testsdone right away because theywere lacking the equipment toaccommodate us. There wasan obvious need and I felt thatwe could make a significantimpact for them.”Sitting down at a committeemeeting for the annual SportChek Mother’s Day Run& Walk, Todd shared hisexperience with the group.“Supporting the NICUs wassomething the committeereally wanted to get behind,”said Todd. Every year sinceTodd’s experience, ForzaniFoundation has donated$200,000 from the Sport ChekMother’s Day Run & Walk toNICUs across the city.The event has great supportfrom the community; with over14,500 participants in <strong>2011</strong>,undeterred by the rain.“We take pride in sitting downwith Calgary Health Trust andthe NICU Managers to findout what their greatest needsare and how we can have animpact,” explains Todd.“Every so often, I run intoa nurse who tells me what adifference the donationsmade for the unit.”For the event committeeand community supporters,knowing that babies aregetting the treatment theyneed so they can come homewith their mothers is what it’sall about.Over 14,500 community supporters participated in the<strong>2011</strong> Sport Chek Mother’s Day Run and Walk to raise moneyfor Calgary’s NICUs.The most precious of thingsMargaret Bank is the UnitManager for NeonatalIntensive Care (NICU) atRockyview General Hospital.Much of the success she hason her unit, she attributes tothe great generosity of thecommunity. “The greatestsuccess for our littlest patientscomes when everything workstogether,” she says.“We have been blessed bythe generosity of so manyCalgarians and corporationsover the years that haveenabled us to enhance thecare that we provide our tinypatients and improve theiroutcomes.”Margaret gives immense creditto Alberta Health Services,who must allocate the capitalbudget to the areas thatneed it the most. “Thereis such a competition formoney among every programthroughout every hospital andcare centre in the provincethat they sometimes have toallocate money to areas ofhigher need and find ways tostretch dollars. Often a brokenmachine needs to be replacedbefore another one can beupgraded,” explains Margaret.“Philanthropy has allowedus to keep learning aboutbetter, more effective waysfor care and maximize theresources we need to makesure our patients have the bestpossible outcomes.”An example of how learningand technology go handin hand for Maragret andher team is the impact thebed’s temperature has onthe outcome for an infant.“Research has shown thatcooling the head of prematureinfants can prevent bleedingin the brain, which can havemany long term effects.With funds from CalgaryHealth Trust, we were able topurchase a cooling mattressfor babies at risk of this.”The unit also used donationsto purchase hybrid warmers.“With a push of a button,the warmer turns into anincubator,” explains Maragret.“This is important becausesome of our babies are so24 Calgary Health Trust
126,700 reasons to smileCommunity support has never tasted so good!The entire proceeds fromthe Tim Hortons’ SmileCookie Campaign, betweenSeptember 19-25 inCalgary were donated toCalgary Health Trust, raising$126,700 in support of theNeonatal Intensive Care Unitsthroughout the city.“All of our Tim Hortonsrestaurant owners give backin so many different ways, soSmile Cookie is a way thatthey can all come together tosupport their local community,”explained Trina Rathgeber,Regional Marketing Managerfor Tim Hortons. “When westarted Smile Cookie, wewanted to do somethingrelated to health care andchildren. After hearing howbusy Calgary’s NICUs are itseemed like an area that wecould really make a differencein together.”The money raised this yearpurchased a number of vitalpieces of equipment, suchas SiPAP machines. Thesemachines are a non-invasiveway to prevent prematurelungs from collapsing andassist babies who are havingdifficulty breathing. Twounits also received specialevacuation beds. “We hopewe never have to use them,”said Rockyview GeneralHospital NICU Manager,Margaret Bank, “but it iscomforting to know that if weneed them, they are there.”For the staff at FoothillsMedical Centre NICU, aspecialized fridge and freezermeans they can store more ofwhat is known as the “miraclemedicine” – breast milk.Having breast milk availableassists in preventing manyserious complications thatcan be common amongpremature babies.“I would like to extend asincere thank you to everyonewho helped to make thisyear’s campaign such anoverwhelming success,” saidCaroline Barham, Tim HortonsRestaurant Owner. “Raisingawareness for Calgary HealthTrust through the Smile CookieCampaign opens the door tomore community involvementand ensures that the fundsraised in our community stayin our community. I thinkthat’s something we can allsmile about!”“The Smile Cookie Campaignopens the door to more communityinvolvement and ensures that thefunds raised in our communitystay in our community.”– Caroline BarhamCalgary Health Trust Board Chair, Ann McCaig, and hergrandchildren do their part in the sweet 126,700 SmileCookies sold this year.Your impactfragile that their skin canactually break and they cannothandle being transferred frombed to bed.”“It’s all interrelated,” describesMargaret. “We are so blessedby the incredible support fromthe Sport Chek Mother’s DayRun & Walk, Tim Hortons’Smile Cookie Campaign andthe CE Franklin 3-on-3 HockeyTournament, as well as thenumerous family graduates,private donors and people inthe community who are sopassionate about our littlepatients. As long as we keeplearning and keep strivingto do better, we are able togive our patients the greatestchance for success.”Margaret Bank (left) and her team at the NICU know that thegreatest success for their tiny patients comes when we allwork together.Thank you.25
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Page 34 and 35: Thank YouEvery donor has a story, e
Page 36: Thank YouEnhancing health care in o

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