COMMUNITY REPORT 2023 Katherine’s Message

Looking back – looking forward.

A while back, a donor whose wife had gone through chemotherapy here, came to us with a gift. His wife, Karen, had lost so much weight that she couldn’t sit comfortably in the waiting room chairs between sessions. Sadly, she passed away in August 2020, but in her memory, her husband gave Huntsville Hospital the gift of comfort. Karen’s Comfort Chairs now help patients with similar challenges.

This story is an important example of the thoughtfulness of our entire donor community, from $100 gifts to larger gifts. Every donor inspires us as they inspire other donors, and for that, we couldn’t be more thankful.

Today, we are in the final stages of one of our largest Capital Campaigns ever – the $10 million Focus on Imaging Campaign. Our donors have stepped up to help us acquire Muskoka’s first MRI and The Sprott Foundation Diagnostic Imaging Department is equipped for a bright future and saving lives.

Donor continuity is another key indicator of success as is the efficiency of this organization. Multi-gift, annual donors are increasing, and Huntsville Hospital Foundation continues to steward funds efficiently – our costs over the last five years have averaged 24¢ per dollar raised. That puts us in the top quartile of fundraising efficiency in Ontario.

All of this success hasn’t happened by accident. We have stayed laser-focused on our Mission. We have added and developed staff who contribute as they grow. And even through COVID, when events and business-as-usual were undermined, we didn’t miss a beat.

I want to thank my team: For their energy, for their commitment, for the joy they bring and the service to donors they offer – for their profound resiliency as individuals and as a positive force in the community. I also want to thank our Board, past and present and for the leadership and talent they will contribute to our future. And most importantly, I want to thank you, our incredible donors. Thank you for choosing and supporting Huntsville Hospital.

We are well positioned for what comes next – the redevelopment of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare which you will read more about in this report. I’m confident because while we are distinct entities, multiple partners now function as a team: Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, South Muskoka Hospital Foundation, our Boards and our communities. That looks like a promising future to me.

Katherine Craine
CEO | Huntsville Hospital Foundation