Welcome to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation!

We are helping to build a better hospital and improve healthcare in Moose Jaw and Southern Saskatchewan.

We work in partnership with the Five Hills Health Region, doctors, nurses, donors, volunteers, and the community to support the purchase of state of the art equipment, provide exceptional patient care and enhance healthcare.

Explore our site to find out more about our special events, current projects and how you can support the Moose Jaw Union Hospital and healthcare in our community. We hope you find the information found here both informative and useful, and we look forward to hearing from you in the future.

The Foundation at Work in Our Community

As the official charitable organization for the Moose Jaw Union Hospital, the Foundation works in close partnership with the Five Hills Health Region to identify the most critical needs of the hospital. The Foundation's role is to inspire and motivate, and then link donor and community support to invest in the Moose Jaw Union Hospital.

Through a donor-centered approach the Foundation provides charitable investment opportunities that transform the community's goal of enhancing the hospital into a reality. By working in partnership with the community and the Five Hills Health Region, the Moose Jaw Health Foundation raises funds to:

• Purchase state of the art medical equipment
• Continue the advanced education of hospital professionals to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of direct patient care
• Support innovative community health programs and services
• Provide inspiration, leadership and options for those wishing to support the Moose Jaw Union Hospital

The Moose Jaw Health Foundation honors the generous support the Hospital has received throughout its long history. It builds upon this historic support by developing collaborative partnerships with those that share the vision of enhancing the hospital.

Planning Today for a Healthy Tomorrow

Students from Sacred Heart Community School present a cheque to Moose Jaw Health Foundation Board Member Ken Hawkes in support of the Paediatrics Unit of the Moose Jaw Union Hospital.

Each year the Moose Jaw Health Foundation continues to advance its mission of raising and investing funds to overcome current and future challenges facing the Moose Jaw Union Hospital. Your generous contributions have made a profound difference in helping patients on their road to recovery at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital .

On behalf of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation Board, medical staff, and patients who benefit from your generosity, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your overwhelming support in making 2008 one of the most successful years in Foundation history.

It is a humbling experience to see individuals from all walks of life express to us how important the Moose Jaw Union Hospital is to their family. So many of our donors tell us stories of how doctors, nurses and other health care professionals helped them through a significant crisis in their life.

As an independent non-profit organization, the Moose Jaw Health Foundation relies on the generosity of our donors to raise 100% of our funds. We are grateful to all our donors for their exceptional generosity and commitment to our hospital and healthcare in Moose Jaw .

Every dollar raised stays in our community to invest in state-of-the-art equipment and services at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital. You have made a significant difference with your continued support.

Donors and volunteers do make the difference everyday at our hospital. Donations recently helped purchase a new digital mammography unit, ultrasound unit, critical care ventilators, anesthetic machine, holter monitors, funded nursing scholarships, walkers, wheelchairs, and critical care monitors for the Intensive Care Unit. Due to overwhelming donor support from the first Radiothon, the paediatrics department is undergoing extensive changes with four newly renovated rooms, flooring and nursing station.

Recently, the Health Foundation achieved the $1.3 million dollar goal for the renovation and revitalization of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The renovation will provide four private patient rooms, a state-of-the-art isolation room, centralized nursing station, medication area and new equipment to help save and enhance the lives of over 600 patients that utilize the Moose Jaw Union Hospital ICU each year. The renovation is scheduled to happen over the summer months and be completed in the fall of 2009. This achievement was only made possible by the generosity of Moose Jaw Health Foundation donors and the hard work of community volunteers.

So many groups and organizations work hard to help the Moose Jaw Union Hospital . The Moose Jaw Kinsmen and Kinsmen Foundation, the Moose Jaw Union Hospital Auxiliary, ACT/UCT, Eagles, the Royal Canadian Legion, Lions, Early Bird Lions, Chinese Community Association, Optimist Club, Kiwanis, Rotary Clubs, Moose Jaw Horizon Running Club, Polkafest Club, Band City Good Sams, Beta Sigma Phi, public schools, and separate schools. These community organizations and many more raise funds through events to help over 1,200 people that pass through the front doors of our hospital each day.

The Moose Jaw Health Foundation in 2009 will also partner with many businesses and service club organizations to provide additional opportunities for the community to support healthcare through events. Tim Horton's Smiles, Shopper's Drug Mart Tree of Life, the Business Women of Moose Jaw, McDonalds/Moose Jaw Warriors paediatrics campaign. Each organization recognizes the importance of our hospital in Moose Jaw and the Foundation is very grateful for their support.

Two new unique events in 2009 will support the Health Foundation. The Little Princes Ball and Auction provides a wonderful way for mothers and daughters to support the paediatrics unit. Cause for a Walk will energize the community to support the Women Health Unit at the hospital with new surgical equipment. Both the Moose Jaw Polka Fest and Concerts in the Park will once again have toes tapping in the community to support our hospital. Runners will once again on Canada Day morning participate in the Moose Jawg. Moose Jaw favorite event and most spectacular event of the holiday season “Festival of Trees” occurs on Saturday, November 14 th , funds raised will go towards state-of-the-art surgical equipment. Over 6,000 surgeries are performed each year at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital . Each and every dollar raised from these events makes a monumental difference in the lives of patients at our hospital. To find out more about these exciting events visit the Moose Jaw Health Foundation website at www.mjhf.org.

One of the most amazing qualities of our community is the support that the Foundation receives from many companies and local businesses. Casino Moose Jaw , Yara Belle Plaine and Mosaic contribute to the Foundation in a number of special ways. Many local businesses in Moose Jaw attend Foundation events, make donations, volunteer their time and provide auction items to support improving patient care at our hospital. Businesses in Moose Jaw show true leadership and set the pace. It is difficult to put into words how much that support means to the hospital and the heartfelt level of commitment behind that generosity – thank you.

The Foundation also takes great pride in our relationships with local media. The Moose Jaw Times Herald provides an unprecedented amount of coverage to the Moose Jaw Union Hospital . 800 CHAB's Radiothon, along with Country 100 and Mix 103 update and inform the community on the latest happenings at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital and SHAW Cable through interviews and coverage of events show the commitment of volunteers to make our hospital better.

The third annual 800 CHAB Moose Jaw Health Foundation Family First Radiothon will take place on May 7th and 8th. The third annual Family First Radiothon will help purchase new equipment to aid in the detection and treatment of colorectal cancer. Funds raised during the Radiothon will help purchase a state-of-the-art endoscopy processor and light source to detect cancer with a high degree of accuracy; a new operating table to provide unrestricted access to patients; a high resolution guided ultrasound to aid in surgical procedures; and provide surgical teams with new IV pumps, crash carts and the best surgical instruments in Canada.

Colorectal cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in Saskatchewan and the second most common overall cause of cancer related deaths. One in fourteen men and one in sixteen women will develop colorectal cancer within their lifetime. The goal of the Radiothon is to provide the surgeons at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital with state-of-the-art equipment to aid in the treatment of those patients facing this immense health challenge.

Please lend a healing hand during the 3rd Annual Family First Radiothon to help the Moose Jaw Health Foundation save the lives of those you care about at our hospital. Each and every dollar raised in Moose Jaw stays in our community to aid patients at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital overcome their battle with colorectal cancer. New equipment is essential in the recruitment and retention of surgeons, physicians, specialists and nurses.

Once again – thank you for your commitment to healthcare at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital. You have made a difference in the lives of others.

Sincerely,

Kelly McElree

Executive Director

Moose Jaw Health Foundation