When given the opportunity to support improvements in health care at Richmond Hospital, Angela Fok didn’t hesitate in saying yes.
The president and founder of Richmond-based Elite Wealth Management was a sponsor of the foundation’s annual fundraiser, the Starlight Gala, and has committed to supporting a new Acute Care Tower for Richmond Hospital.
Angela has a personal connection to the hospital. Her elderly grandfather had been a frequent patient to the hospital and had been in-and-out of care for quite some time. Three years ago, he passed away at 97 in palliative care at the hospital.
Angela and her extended family were with her grandfather throughout his final days and they appreciated the compassionate care and professionalism provided by Richmond Hospital’s staff.
“The staff were very caring,” Angela, a Richmond resident says.
While the level of care is excellent at Richmond Hospital, there are challenges due to the age of the original building. The Acute Care Tower was built in 1966 to serve a community of 50,000 people and not the population of 220,000 who live in Richmond today. In particular, the original tower is seismically unstable, severely deficient and needs to be replaced. When staying with her grandfather in the hospital, Angela wished that there was a more comfortable room.
“It would make a big difference for patients and families to have a more modern facility.”
Angela’s aunt had inspired her to give back, in particular to Richmond Hospital, so that is why she quickly became a donor. And with Angela’s background with Elite Wealth Management, which provides investment and insurance advice to its clients, she has some insight into how others can support the hospital.
Why give back?
“To ensure that the Richmond Hospital Foundation can continue its commitment for the community’s health care needs, to help purchase vital medical equipment, improve patient care programs and upgrade local facilities,” says Angela.
One way in which donors can help Richmond Hospital is through Planned Giving, Angela says.
“Planned Giving is an easy way of perpetuating support to the Richmond Hospital Foundation beyond your lifetime. There are many different ways to make a planned gift. Most importantly, planned gifts can be tailored to your personal and financial circumstances.”
The most common type of planned gift is a charitable bequest in a person’s will, Angela notes, although, more and more Canadians are realizing the benefits of giving through methods such as gifts of publicly traded securities and mutual funds, gift-plus annuities, life insurance policies, and charitable remainder trusts. Such giving can make a significant difference to local health care, Angela says.
“Planned gifts are easy to set up and they can provide one with philanthropic satisfaction, current and future tax savings, and estate tax saving benefits,” Angela says.
