Donate Your Dress

Don't ever plan to get married again (not to the same guy anyway)? Don't want to bother with cleaning those stains out. A charitable organization called Making Memories accepts gown, veil, and slip donations. Just pack your items in a box and send them to the address listed at www.makingmemories.org. The foundation asks that you include a $10 check to pay for the expense of preparing your wedding gown for sale. Be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope inside your package so that Making Memories can return a tax-deductible receipt for you. Making Memories hosts a Brides Against Breast Cancer, Nationwide Tour of Gowns, and the donations it receives are used to grant final wishes for men and women suffering from terminal breast cancer.

Scarborough Fair residents BBQ for beds

On August 21, residents of the Scarborough Fair Condominiums opened their wallets and waistlines to support the Rouge Valley Centenary Buy a Bed campaign.

Lucy Perri, President of Scarbrough Fair Condominiums organized the community BBQ where she encouraged guests to open their doors to share food and friendship. As the celebrations ended, over $2,000 had been raised for the campaign.

Thanks to the generous donations of staff, the community and volunteer services, the Buy a Bed campaign has funded 40 beds towards its 100-bed goal. Through the continued support of third-party events like the BBQ, you can propel our campaign forward to restore comfort and health, one bed at a time.

(L-R) Katherine Craine, RVHS Foundation, Lucy Perri, and Councillor Michael Thompson, Ward 37, Scarborough.

Soaring with the Royal Canadian Legion

Each year, the Royal Canadian Legion dedicates their time and effort to fund raising and awareness initiatives for those in need.

In keeping with this primary purpose, the Royal Canadian Legion # 256, General Wingate Branch has made a generous donation. A gift of $1,500 from the proceeds of their 2009 poppy campaign was given to the Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital Image is Everything Campaign to purchase our first MRI at the Ajax and Pickering campus.

Thank you again for all of your support, in serving our community.

(L-R) L-R Jennifer Collins, RVHS Foundation; Eric Levine; Allan A. Rubin; Lori Rubin-Ricer, RVHS Foundation volunteer.

Volunteer Services donates new pain pumps for patients

Thanks to a generous gift from Rouge Valley Centenary Volunteer Services, eight PCA pumps used for pain management were purchased.

The donation was funded by the volunteers' limitless fund raising efforts which include monthly book and craft sales, and the ever popular raffle prizes.

"We are so grateful to the Volunteers for all their hard work in raising the funds for these new pumps - they will make a real difference to the care and comfort we can offer our post surgical patients," says Carole Chabot, Vice President, Development.

Attending the official plaquing of the pain pumps at Centenary on August 14, were volunteers Ethel Niewolski, Doreen Banks, Joanne Moffitt, Ed Banks, and Rhodora Gutierrez.

Without the support of our volunteers, we would not be able to achieve the successes we've seen possible.

(L-R) Volunteers Ed Banks and Joanne Moffitt, Carole Chabot, RVHSF Vice President, Development, Volunteers Doreen Banks and Ethel Niewolski

Rubini Customer Appreciation Day

On Saturday August 29, owner Kula Kulasingam opened the doors of Rubini East and West Indian Food Market to his local community.

In recognition of the neighbourhood that had supported him and his family through the years, Kula decided to give back. The celebration raised $6,000 for the Rouge Valley Centenary Buy a Bed campaign.

"Our children were born at Centenary and we have needed the hospital in other ways over the years," says Kula. "We felt it was time to give back to the same hospital that has looked after us."

Finding support through community partnerships has been an exciting way to grow together. Every person has a story to tell and a reason to give.

(L-R) Richard Newman, Rasandrakumar Kanagasabi, Katherine Craine, Director, Major Gifts and Special Campaigns at RVC, Thiruchelvam Raj, Kulasingam Selliah and Kennedy Phillip.

Former Board member slows down for support

Living life in the fast lane had become routine for former Foundation board member Nestor Cruz. Even after stepping down in 2007 from four years on the board, Nestor's professional life was still extremely busy. Encouraged by his friend and fellow board member Liz Ryan, Nestor took some time to relax and reacquaint himself with the Rouge Valley Health System cause at the 2010 Golf Classic.

"The Buy a Bed cause seemed so worthy of donating." says Nestor. "But seeing my former colleagues on the board like Jim Ward and Liz Ryan reminded me of the need to support not only causes but the volunteers who take on the challenging mantle of fund raising leadership."

Being able to support a worthy cause and support the community leaders and volunteers made the decision to donate $5,000 to buy a bed, an easy one.

"If I can't spend the time to raise money for our community," says Nestor "I can at least support those that do."

If you're interested in supporting our community leaders and becoming involved in the Buy a Bed campaign, please contact Katherine Craine at 416-281-7119.

RBC Community Spirit Award donation

In 2010, 57 RBC employees were honoured recipients of a $1,000 RBC Community Spirit Award. Employees were nominated for this award for their outstanding contribution, commitment and leadership to their community and for their inspiration in encouraging others to get involved and engage in volunteer services. One of these deserving recipients is Lisa Gallacher, Regional Vice President for Scarborough, Pickering, Ajax, RBC Royal Bank. Lisa helped spearhead RBC's "Give from the Heart to Save a Heart" campaign last year, which raised $75,000 to purchase 3 ECG machines for Rouge Valley Health System.

Lisa's commitment to health care and her community is even more admirable as she has donated her $1,000 award to Rouge Valley.

Lisa at the Foundation's 2010 Gala. Photo by Kerry McLeish