Foundation History
The High River District Health Care Foundation was established on March 25th, 1986 and obtained charitable registration on October 16th, 1986. For the first five years hospital staff ran the Foundation in addition to their regular departmental responsibilities. Our only fund raising activity was the annual Dinner and Auction, which continues to this day. The 2012 Dinner raised over $56,000, and supported enhancements to Acute Care. The first direct mail campaign was held in November of 1992, a Donor recognition program put in place, and a Donor newsletter, Foundation Footnotes, was launched. It is still published bi-annually. The Foundation received its first bequest in 1989 which established a permanent endowment fund for the Foundation. Over the years the endowment fund has been added to and now stands at over $1 million. The intent of the endowment fund is to ensure the long term viability of the Foundation. In November 1991 the “Be Our Partner” campaign was launched and the beginnings of a formal Fund Development program was put in place. In April of 1992 a Fund Development Co-ordinator was hired by the Foundation on a contract basis. The following December the Foundation’s office was re-located within the Hospital and on April 1, 1994 the Board decided to make the Development Co-ordinator a permanent position within the Foundation. In 2009 the Board hired a full-time Executive Director. In 2013 the Foundation launched its most significant fund raising initiative to date, partnering with the Rotary Club High River to raise one milliion dollars to support the expansion and enhancement of the Community Cancer Centre at the High River Hospital. The Foundations main focus continus to be on the Hospital but expands to cover Alberta Health Service supported initiatives in High River and Nanton.
