Groves Hospital Foundation received international media attention with a story published recently in Advancing Philanthropy, a magazine created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to explain all the things this community has accomplished and how strong philanthropy is here,” said Sherri Sutherland, executive director of the Groves Hospital Foundation.
Recognized for their focus on successful endowment fundraising and community-based relationships in a rural region, the Groves Foundation was highlighted as an example of what small organizations can do to meet fundraising objectives.
Since the foundation was established to support the Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMCH) in 2002, it has raised $15 million in cash and pledges to construct a new hospital in Centre Wellington. Fundraising for a new oncology clinic was then followed by a $2.6 million capital campaign to purchase and house a CT diagnostic scanner.
While the focus of the Advancing Philanthropy article was about small endowment initiatives, particular focus was paid to the Foundation’s recent advertising campaign featuring GMCH’s medical doctors in a series of poster ads themed as television medical dramas, such as House, Grey’s Anatomy and MASH.
The advertisements, released in June 2011 are part of the Foundation’s fundraising efforts, ask patrons to “Help ensure your hospital and doctors have the best equipment possible.”
Posted throughout the GMCH, the familiar faces point to the connection between the need for funding support and the direct result it will make to medical care in the region.
Advancing Philanthropy is a publication that goes to organizations across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Asia.
Sutherland is proud of the attention this story brings to her organization.
“It says everything I always say about this place: we are very blessed to have the community hospital here, and we have a very giving community,” she said.
Samples of the medical team posters and information on the endowment program can be found at www.grovesfoundation.com.
