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SMHF Newsletter Between Friends For the most recent Foundation news, you can download our most recent newsletter Between Friends Fall 2011 newsletter [PDF, .8 MB]
Archived newsletters:
By filling out our form, you can sign up to receive our newsletter that comes out twice annually. |
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NEWS EVENTS MOOSE FM staffers John Wright and Jenny Hodge dress up as medical personnel while Wendy Gray interviews nine-year-old Annalise Smart of Bracebridge. She told listeners, "The nurses at the hospital made me feel safe." The MOOSE was "on the loose," on the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend, broadcasting live from the hospital in the morning and from the busy parking lot outside the liquor and beer store in Bracebridge in the afternoon. It happened again. In fact, it happened for the third time. The MOOSE FM 99.5 radio wavelengths reached out to South Muskoka and beyond with the third annual MOOSE FM Radiothon to benefit the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation. In response, the Muskoka community showed its colours and its brushstrokes were painted with generosity. The pledges to support the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital came steadily rolling in during the 12 hours of The MOOSE FM Radiothon, totalling just over $35,000. The funds will be put toward a list of equipment for the hospital that is deemed “urgently needed.” People from all walks of life responded to the call to action from their radios – children, visitors, businesses, cottagers, and residents called in or visited the radio station and the hospital to tell their stories and give pledges. Most donors that day had at least one experience with the hospital and were grateful for the caring and professional care they or their loved ones received. Yet others who had never even used the hospital listened to the stories and called in because they simply wanted to give. “We had more first time donors this year,” said Colin Miller, Executive Director of the Foundation. “And the other trend was that there were more individual supporters than last year, when we had more corporate donations.” As to the Radiothon’s ongoing success: Miller ascribes two main reasons. The first being the generosity of the community and the second being the role of The MOOSE. Miller credits the community for their understanding regarding the current predicament of the hospital: “There’s so much in the news about the debt load in the Ontario health care system, and we’re wrestling with our debt as well. But people in South Muskoka understand that if you want to have a strong community hospital, we all need to support it.” “It’s very important to Christopher & Kimberly,” explains Director of Sales John Wright, “that all of our radio stations contribute significantly to their communities. “They feel strongly about several charities but the Hospital Radiothon is a priority. From my perspective, where I really am thankful, is for the number of corporate sponsors that assist us frequently when called upon. Today (the day of the Radio-thon), these companies stepped up big time, sponsored an hour or gave generously. These are important partnerships and we appreciate them and their charitable generosity.” Wendy Gray, Vice President of News & Digital Content for The MOOSE, interviewed donors live from the hospital and couldn’t help but notice the steady stream of people and how vibrant and busy the hospital was. The Radiothon raised the spirits of the people she encountered. “The atmosphere was jubilant,” she recalls. “There were a lot more people this year who came over to the hospital to donate, showing that this Radiothon has become a tradition that the Foundation and The MOOSE do together on the Friday of Thanksgiving. Also, this event cements The MOOSE FM staff together and brings out our passion and excitement. I’d like to thank the staff personally for their time and dedication.” Mike Fry the Morning Guy and Ryan Griffiths shared the radio waves with Gray on the day of the Radiothon and there were countless other volunteers from the radio station, Foundation and Hospital Auxiliary who helped it all come together with such spectacular results. In recognition of The MOOSE FM’s ongoing contribution, Colin Miller of the Foundation recently presented Wendy Gray and John Wright with a plaque of appreciation. Keep reading your Between Friends newsletters and stay tuned to The MOOSE where you’ll be sure to find interesting local content and a community centred atmosphere.
MOOSE-koka Style Radiothon reveals community spirit
Small town hospital heats up radio waves |
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.jpg) Ayden Veitch tells Moose FM's Mike Fry and listeners about his experience in emergency at the hospital. |
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The Friday of Thanksgiving weekend was a day that dawned like any other, with Moose FM radio broadcasters Wendy Gray and Morning Guy Mike Fry leading Muskoka into the day, with the news, the weather, and whatever else the community needed to know to get prepared for their Thanksgiving weekend. At 6 a.m. that morning, the second annual Moose FM Radiothon for the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation started and, a mere 12 hours later, the community had heard countless stories about how the hospital and its staff had helped residents, cottagers, visitors, friends and family members. The stories came from all ages and crossed all societal stratums. The community truly came together through the power of radio and the result captivated listeners. Donors called the radio station and visited the hospital to tell their stories and make pledges, challenge others to pledge, offer pledges in memory of loved ones, and otherwise demonstrate their support of their hospital.
The drama is always high in a hospital – it’s a place where life and death dance together – and, with a little encouragement, the people told their stories. The stories were funny, were sad, were touching, and were traumatic. Listeners heard how the hospital had saved a life, or how the staff had treated someone kindly. They heard stories of how loved ones were helped or cured and how the doctors had diagnosed them, treated them, or helped them. It was good for the community to hear about their own being healed.
There had been some trepidation about how this year’s Radiothon would fare. Last year, the first hospital Radiothon raised more than $42,000. Since then, however, the full force of a recession had hit and Muskoka had certainly not been left unscathed. This year, when the total raised came in at $45,326, those conservative naysayers were more than pleasantly surprised. Community spirit trumped recession.
It was no surprise to Wendy Gray, who remarked in her blog the next day: “That’s what a community does, it supports itself and helps build a strong future for generations to come.”
A theme that persevered over the day included comparisons and contrasts to the larger hospitals in the city.
One patient said, “You just don’t get this kind of care at a large hospital.” Another, who had undergone emergency surgery, described her experience as, “Small town feel, big city service.” Another said he was, “treated like family at the hospital.”
“At our hospital, you’re a person, not a gallbladder,” said one of the volunteers who took time to comment between taking calls for pledges. This same sentiment was echoed by the testimonials of patients who spoke of the kindness of the staff and the caring atmosphere they encountered.
“We’re truly blessed with the staff we have,” Foundation Chair Douglas Lamb told listeners. “And now we need to give the staff the equipment they need.” Lamb spoke about the need to purchase up-to-date equipment and replace equipment no longer covered by service warrantees. While last year’s Radiothon focused on the CT scanner and associated facilities, this year’s focused on the hospital’s wish list of $5.5 million worth of equipment that has been deemed to be of urgent need.
In the afternoon, Muskokans who stopped by the beer and liquor stores were treated to an extra delight when Muskoka’s beloved Peaches, assisted by Moose FM staff, approached individuals for funds for the Radiothon. Peaches, with her special brand of humour, lightened spirits in addition to wallets.
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South Muskoka celebrates early completion of The Picture of Health campaign |
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South Muskoka supported their hospital in spades, said South Muskoka Hospital Foundation (SMHF) representatives at a reception celebrating the early completion and success of the campaign on Thursday, January 8.
“Due to the hard work of the campaign cabinet and the generosity of our donors,” explained campaign co-chair Paul Hammond, “we completed a four-year campaign in three years.”
The final amount overshot the goal of $5.5 million by several hundred thousand for a total of $5,800,523. The Picture of Health campaign provided the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site with state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment and facilities. The cornerstone of the campaign is a 16-slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, now considered to be an essential medical tool. Other project plans included two new radiology rooms, space for ultrasound equipment, a Wellness Centre and the Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) that allows CT images to be sent electronically worldwide.
“Our celebration today,” said SMHF chair J. Douglas Lamb, “goes beyond this particular campaign. I believe it should also be a celebration of the lives saved by this new technology and a celebration of the seven new physicians who have come to our hospital since its installation. Having up-to-date medical equipment such as a CT scanner enhances the quality of healthcare in South Muskoka in so many ways – and for so many people - including our permanent and seasonal residents as well as our visitors.”
Foundation representatives credited both year-round residents and seasonal residents for their overwhelming support. “It is important for the community to understand that our cottagers have put in a considerable amount of cash as well,” explained SMHF executive director Colin Miller.
The larger donations included 56 gifts of between $10,000 and $24,999; 38 gifts of between $25,000 and $49,999; 16 gifts of $50,000; eight gifts of $100,000; one gift of $250,000 and two gifts of $500,000.
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SMHF In the NewsLetter to editor by David Heaslip, Bracebridge Examiner, November 12, 2008.
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