It was an evening with a joyful purpose to honour extraordinary giving at truly impactful levels.
Friends, families and community members gathered with Richmond Hospital Foundation at the River Rock Show Theatre on May 8 for the Community Cares Celebration, an inspiring donor event recognizing the impact of their philanthropic leaders on Richmond health care.
As a registered charity, Richmond Hospital Foundation is committed to ensuring donor dollars have an impact on building a healthier future for Richmond. They inspire people to give, knowing that their generosity will foster development and positively impact lives in the community.
The Foundation is also a catalyst for innovation and technology that transforms health care, something event guests experienced first-hand.
Embracing new technologies
Dr. Takanori Shibata showcased his PARO seal invention, an advanced interactive therapeutic robot that provides the benefits of animal therapy to patients in environments such as hospitals and extended care facilities where live animals present treatment or logistical difficulties.
Thanks to help from Richmond Hospital Foundation donors, Richmond long-term care facilities currently have access to PARO therapeutic robots.
“Acceptance of technologies is very important," says Dr. Shibata, Ph.D., chief senior research scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan.
"Technologies can help people and can be tools for professionals in health care to improve the quality of care and service and reduce the burden of care and service. It is very difficult to develop new technologies that work well and are useful, as well as safe and secure."
The importance of technologies can't be understated, a message reinforced by Dr. Lillian Hung, Canada Research Chair in Senior Care, and founder of the UBC IDEA lab. She leads research examining how the environment — including technology, physical design and social aspects — may impact the care experiences of persons with dementia.
“Technology plays a crucial role in the future of health care for two main reasons," explains Dr. Hung. "One, technology enables access to health services, breaking down barriers for underserved populations, such as older people with dementia, and two, advances in technology facilitate person-centred care for individual patients based on their unique needs and preferences."
"For example, artificial intelligence revolutionizes health care by using machine learning to provide tailored care support.”
Recognition for donors
Giving joyfully is to know that you are part of the solution and involved in something bigger than yourself. In this spirit, Richmond Hospital Foundation recognized a total of 22 donors and their exemplary philanthropy.
The Community Cares Award recipient, Dan On, founder and owner of Richmond-based Dan-D Foods Ltd., made a transformational donation in 2023 to help ensure the purchase of a second CT scanner for Richmond and the enhancement of patient care in the new Yurkovich Family Pavilion.
“Excellent health care is important to everyone, and I was inspired by my employees and business partners to make a gift to help the community where we live, work, and visit,” shares On.
Other awards presented include the PhD of Inspiration Award – donors with lifetime contributions of more than $250,000; Doctor of Philanthropy Award -- recipients who have made generous lifetime contributions of more than $50,000; and Community Fundraiser Award – individuals, organizations, or groups for their outstanding commitment for 5 or more consecutive years of fundraising for the Foundation.
Richmond Hospital redevelopment progress
As construction progresses for the Yurkovich Family Pavilion, work is currently underway on the interim Psychiatric Assessment Unit near the South Tower, with planning for the Pavilion procurement and work for the Rotunda demolition also in progress.
The Yurkovich Family Pavilion, once complete, will include a bigger emergency department, more operating rooms, an intensive care unit, a fully equipped medical imaging department and short-stay pediatrics.
This will give Richmond, with its growing and aging population, the acute care it needs moving into the future.
For more information, visit richmondhospitalfoundation.com.
