President's Corner - Welcome

Welcome to York Central Hospital Foundation’s newest communication venue: social media!

Through my posts on President’s Corner, I’ll be able to provide you with an inside look at the Foundation while providing updates on YCH advances in patient care and links to interesting fundraising articles. 

The past few months have been exciting to say the least, especially with the completion of a long anticipated project: our new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

On December 14, 2010 we officially opened the new unit, and what an exciting day it was. Donors and staff were treated to a tour of the new unit by Dr. Gerald Friedman, Chief of Paediatrics at York Central Hospital (YCH), followed by the official opening ceremonies, held in the Berwick Family Auditorium.

The new NICU will eventually have the capacity to care for twice as many of our tiniest and most vulnerable patients as the old unit.

 Saying “thank you” just wouldn’t be enough to our donors, especially our largest, the Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital, who contributed $1 million to this vital project. Association President Pat Young spoke on behalf of the Volunteers at the opening ceremony and thanked each and every volunteer for their dedication and support for this project and many others.

Additionally, thanks to our most successful gala in our history, we provided the hospital with the funding required to purchase a state-of-the-art Nuclear Medicine Camera. This camera greatly improves the detection and visualization of many disease processes and operates 50% faster, and uses 50% less radiation. 

While we’ve had a great end to the year, I can’t help but get excited about what’s to come in the following months as we continue to improve patient care through philanthropy. Construction has begun on our second Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Suite dedicated to Urology and Gynaecology and is expected to be completed in the spring. This will mean even more patients will experience less post-operative discomfort, smaller incisions and faster healing times.

We have yet to reach our fiscal year-end goal, but I’m hopeful through the generous support of our community and donors like you, we’ll be able to exceed even our own expectations and fulfill our obligation of funding life-saving medical equipment and technology to YCH.

I look forward to keeping you connected and helping the hospital achieve its vision to “be the finest community hospital in Canada”.

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

Welcome!

York Central Hospital Foundation has joined the growing online trend of social media.

By establishing Facebook, Twitter and a corporate blog, we hope to reach an even bigger audience and continue to “Inspire Inspirational Gifts”.

Through our social media accounts, donors, volunteers, staff and visitors can get information on upcoming events, recent donations, find out more about our top priorities, and even see themselves profiled.

If you are a visitor, welcome! If you are one of our many incredibly generous donors, supporters or volunteers, thank you for your ongoing support and generosity.

Since 1977, we’ve been raising funds for priority projects and equipment at York Central Hospital.

Through your inspirational gifts, we’ve granted more than $64 million to York Central Hospital to purchase life-saving equipment and medical technology.

In 2009, we completed the largest redevelopment and construction project in the hospital’s 48-year history.

For our patients, this means we have our first on-site Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit; a state-of-the-art Family Birthing Centre; the Town of Richmond Hill wing complete with The Nick & Rosanne Cortellucci Family Emergency Department, the Intensive Care Unit funded by The Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital, the Paul B. Helliwell Inpatient Care Unit, a second patient care floor, the Dialysis Unit; the Metrus Development Inc. Medical Imaging Department, the John & Josie Watson Breast Health Centre, the Longo’s Learning Centre and the Ruth & Stewart Coxford & Family Chemotherapy and Medical Day Unit. 

More recently, we’ve built the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Suite providing patients requiring surgery with smaller incisions, less scarring, faster recoveries and shorter hospital stays.  We’ve also built a brand new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that will accommodate twice as many of our tiniest and most vulnerable patients.

These new facilities are enhancing the patient care experience and providing our dedicated team of professionals with modern and efficient space to deliver expert and compassionate care. 

It was through your generosity that all of this was possible. Words could not adequately express how thankful we are for your ongoing dedication and support to York Central Hospital Foundation.

With 2011 under way, we’re looking forward to working with you to continue improving healthcare in our community!

Sincerely yours,

Alyshia

Stewardship & Communications Coordinator