Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation launches 2012-13 fundraising campaign

By Ian Howarth, September 26th, 2012

Life Can Change in an Instant is theme for this year's Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation's sixth annual fundraising campaign. The year-long campaigned, aimed at highlighting the always-present possibility that our health cannot be taken for granted, hopes to at least keep pace with other campaigns that have raised between $1-1.5 million per year putting a grand total of $6 million towards upgrading medical technologies and state-of-the-art equipment - among other things - for all LGH departments.
The annual fundraising campaign, separate from other LGH Foundation fundraising events like the annual Duck Race, fashion show, golf tournament and Lakeshore Ball and private and corporate donations, is the brainchild of LGH Foundation's president Silvana Orrino, who has guided the LGH Foundation since 2007. From her humble roots volunteering as a 13-year-old in the Geriatric Department of the Santa Cabrina Hospital in Montreal's east end, Orrino has since amassed 23 years of experience in the non-profit sector moving from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the Royal Vic before taking up her duties with the LGHF. “This year's annual campaign slogan truly reflects reality,” said Orrino. “We are asking our community to be proactive and to act now.  By choosing to take ownership of their hospital, West Islanders can make sure this is an excellent hospital that we all can be proud of.  Own it, donate, make a difference, and be proud.”
Though the Life Can Change in an Instant campaign is symbolically headed up by Senator Larry Smith, a battalion of volunteers and charismatic chairman of the LGHF Board of Directors since 2009, Nick Di Tomaso are behind it. Di Tomaso knows the annual fundraising campaigns are an important lifeline for the LGH. “With the creation of the downtown superhospital, the demand for local healthcare services here in the West Island is increasing dramatically,” said Di Tomaso. “We need more equipment and greater resources to cope with the demands and excel.  The donations to our annual campaign help us purchase state-of-the-art technology and improve our services, despite the challenges we face from diminished governmental funding.  The support of our community is paramount." As well as being partnered up with the business and political communities of the West Island, the LGH Foundation 2012-13 annual campaign will target mail over 10,000 households.
The LGH Foundation will be holding its seventh annual Fashion Show this weekend, a gala of fashions from Personal Wellness, a personalized boutique dedicated to women facing breast cancer and the effects from treatment. The event, dubbed “Psychedelica” will be held at Volkswagen des Sources (3850 des Sources) this Saturday with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by the fashion show at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $50. The Beat's (92.5 FM) Cousin Vinny will be master of ceremonies with money raised going to cancer patients at the LGH. Last April's LGHF fashion show “Cars and Stars” raised $191,000 for the LGH Pediatric Clinic. For more information call 514-630-2081.n