WELLINGTON COUNTY – The county’s three hospitals have collaborated on a fundraiser entitled the Rural Wellington Hospitals 50/50 Lotto.
The online lottery – benefitting the Groves Memorial Hospital Foundation, Mount Forest Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation, and Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation – is now open and will run for six weeks.
The first winner will be announced on Sept. 1, with monthly draws continuing thereafter.
Groves Hospital Foundation executive director Lori Arsenault explained the hospitals wanted to find a way to make up some of the fundraising that is normally conducted with in-person events.
“[The contest is] entirely remote,” said Arsenault.
She added the local fundraiser is similar to other online hospital lotteries, which have “been quite successful in other communities.”
Prices are $40 for 200 tickets, $20 for 60, or $10 for 10, with the amount of the total jackpot depending on how many tickets are sold.
The more people from the community who enter, the larger the jackpot will be, in addition to providing more funds for the foundations, noted Arsenault.
“We hope that the community will be excited about it,” she said.
Dale Franklin, development officer for the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation, Palmerston and District said officials “would just love the support of the community.”
Franklin noted the foundations don’t typically collaborate on fundraisers but did so this time to reduce costs and “reach a larger segment of the community.”
She added funds raised through the lottery will be used for “capital equipment needs” at the three hospitals.
“Its always nice to work with your partners,” said Louise Marshall Foundation development officer Amy Van Huss.
She added it’s exciting to support rural Wellington as the hospital foundations don’t often collaborate.
“We’re excited to try something new,” she said.
To enter visit www.rwhospitalswin5050.ca.
