Volunteer Association Celebrates 50 Years of Giving Back!

On January 30, 1962 in the midst of a blinding snow storm community minded residents of the town of Richmond Hill, met at the Lions Hall to discuss what they could offer to help the then-future hospital and its patients.

That night, the Volunteer Auxiliary (now called Volunteer Association) was born along with a lifelong commitment to giving for many community residents.

Fifty years later, volunteers continue to play a vital role at York Central Hospital.

Today, York Central Hospital hosted a special ceremony to celebrate 50 years of volunteering at York Central Hospital.

YCH Achieves Impressive Results - Year in Review

Over the last two years, York Central Hospital has made tremendous progress in creating a great patient care experience and a healthy bottom line despite the challenges of caring for one of Canada's fastest growing communities.


Click here to see some of our recent achievements.

The Warm Up Starts Now - Strides For Stroke Is Fast Approaching!

It’s that time of year again.

For some of us, Strides For Stroke means dusting off those runners and checking to see if the jogging gear we carefully put away last fall still fits.  For others, it’s an opportunity to continue our exercise routine in preparation for the summer season ahead.  Whether you’re a new or experienced jogger or walker, let’s get active together for a great cause.

Join us and run or walk in support of the York Region District Stroke Centre at York Central Hospital Foundation’s 7^th Annual Richview Manor Strides for Stroke, being held May 5^th 2012 at Richmond Green.

You can sign up for the 5K Run/Walk and bring your children (aged 12 and under) for the 1K Children’s Scamper.

Come out for an action packed morning beginning with a warm-up with a professional aerobics instructor, live music, a 5K route through beautiful scenery and great food and prizes at the end of the race.

Since 2006, this annual event has raised over $470,000, helping to fund state-of-the art medical equipment for York Central Hospital. Last year, more than 750 participants raised $125,000. Proceeds will be directed to the York Region District Stroke Centre located within York Central Hospital.

As the District Stroke Centre for York Region, York Central has a leadership role in ensuring that stroke patients have rapid access to diagnosis and treatment, appropriate rehabilitation, and long-term care services.

Your support of the Richview Manor Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk will directly contribute to funding an annual District Stroke Bursary which will enhance access to high quality education opportunities to York Central Hospital staff. This bursary will provide them with access to continuous, up-to-date knowledge on best practices to treat stroke patients. Proceeds from the event will also help fund life-saving equipment to support staff in delivering acute stroke treatment and prevention.

Take advantage of the early bird registration fee by registering today at www.yorkcentralrun.com.

Hurry – fees go up April 1, 2012!

You can join as an individual, or encourage your office and family members to participate and register as a team. Friendly competition is welcomed and encouraged, especially in support of such a great cause!

We invite you to contact Brian Mitchell at 905-883-1212 ext. 7807 or email at bmitchell@yorkcentral.on.ca should you have any questions.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the starting line!

Yrok Central Hospital's NICU Celebrates Its First Anniversary!

York Central Hospital is celebrating the first anniversary of our new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The NICU was opened on December 14, 2010 and has expanded from six to twelve stations and can accommodate up to 13 babies. This means as operational funding increases, York Central's dedicated team of paediatric professionals will eventually have the capacity to care for twice as many of our tiniest and most vulnerable babies as the old unit. Each spacious care station was carefully designed and equipped specifically for infants needing special care and includes an isolette and physiological monitor, intravenous pumps, a bedside computer documentation system and phototherapy units.

The new NICU has the appropriate space allotment and design to more easily accommodate life-saving equipment and greater flexibility to deal with emergency situations. Now, mothers and other family members have more privacy at each station allowing them to spend more personal and quality time with their newest additions.

Ultimately, this leads to improved development for babies with challenges at birth and allows families in our community to remain close to home while their precious infant is in our care and take their babies home sooner.

Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, physicians and our incredible donors, including the project's largest donor, The Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital, who helped make this project a reality!

Thank you to the following donors for generously funding the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit:

Casino and Hold’em Poker Event 2009

Casino and Hold’em Poker Event 2010

CIBC Wood Gundy

Fabrizio and Nicole Cortellucci Family

Nancy Coxford

Fieldgate Developments

Manuel Fiuza and Vilma Cortellucci-Fiuza Family

G & L Group – Joe and Lucy Lamanna

Great-West Life Assurance Company

Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat Of Toronto

J.P. Bickell Foundation

Rose Mary Tomei-Kehren and Bill Kehren
Carl George Klees

Francis Verena Klees

Shirley Eleanor Klees

William John Klees

Wm. J. Klees & Son Ltd.

The Marin/Alves Family

McDonalds Restaurants - Stephen Forman

McDonalds Restaurants - Peter Miller

Elson and Joyce Miles

Montesano Family/Primont Homes

Fausto and Silvana Palombo and Family

Proud Partners Golf Classic 2010

Vincenzo Pulla’s 80th Birthday

r.a.p.t. in health luncheon 2011

Richmond Hill Christian Community Church

Ross and Nicole Ferrier and Family

The Schad Foundation

Shoppers Drug Mart Tree of Life Campaign

Marita Simbul-Lezon

TACC Construction Co. Ltd.

The Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital

ZZEN Group of Companies Limited.

Third Party Event: Apple Day Dental Clinic BBQ

Dr. Alex Pister and his colleagues at Apple Day Dental Clinic held their second annual BBQ fundraiser in support of YCH this past fall.

The event has raised more than $700 in support of priority projects at York Central Hospital.

Thank you Dr. Pister and your team for Caring to make a difference™!

Songs of the Season - Thank You!

York Central Hospital Foundation’s inaugural Songs of the Season with Robert Pilon and Friends took place on December 9^th, 2011 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

Robert Pilon and his incredibly talented friends, including a choir made up of York Central Hospital physicians, provided a wonderful evening of entertainment for all of the more than 400 guests and sponsors.

Thank you to everyone who supported and attended this musical event. A special thank you to National Bank, Songs of the Season’s Presenting Sponsor and Lexus of Richmond Hill, the Automotive Presenting Sponsor.

All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will be designated towards the purchase of a state-of-the-art infusion pump system for York Central Hospital.

Inspirational Gift: Councillor Carmine Perrelli

Richmond Hill Ward 2 Councillor Carmine Perrelli made an $18,500 donation to York Central Hospital Foundation last week.

The Councillor has committed to raising $25,000 to refurbish a paediatric room at York Central Hospital.

“There is nothing more important than health. And for a parent, there is nothing more important than the health of your kids,” he said to Richmond Hill Liberal reporter Adam McLean after the cheque presentation.

He will be raising the remaining $6,500 through a customized web page at councillorperrelli.ychfoundation.ca.

Thank you Councillor Perrelli for your donation and for Caring to make a difference!

For more information on how you can help improve care for the children in our community, please call the Foundation office at 905-883-2032 or email foundation@yorkcentral.on.ca.