The Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is pleased to announce the launch of its 25th Annual Christmas Wish Tree Appeal.
Last year’s appeal was a tremendous success, raising more than $115,390 to support the purchase of seven new fetal monitors for CKHA’s Women and Children’s Health Department at the Chatham Campus as well as a new portable ventilator and two vital signs monitors for CKHA’s Sydenham Campus. This year, the proceeds will support the Foundation of CKHA’s $6.9 million CKHA Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Renewal Campaign.
25th Annual Christmas Wish Tree Appeal
Christmas Wish Tree has become a cherished tradition in our community. Through this appeal, residents of Chatham-Kent are able to publicly honour or remember a family member, friend, colleague and/or business by making a donation to illuminate a blue, silver or gold Christmas Wish Tree light in support of their local hospitals.
Foundation of CKHA donors will receive a Christmas Wish Tree invitation in the mail and information is available online at www.foundationckha.com, via the Christmas Wish Tree logo on the homepage. Donations are being accepted online, via mail, over the phone or in-person at the Foundation of CKHA or at Christmas Wish Tree kiosks set-up in CKHA’s Chatham and Sydenham lobbies, during select hours throughout November and December.
Beautiful souvenir snowflake ornaments will also be available for purchase for $10 each at the Christmas Wish Tree kiosks. All proceeds from the sale of the ornaments will be directed to this year’s Christmas Wish Tree Appeal.
As in previous years, all Christmas Wish Tree honourees will be featured in The Chatham Daily News and the Wallaceburg Courier Press on a weekly basis, starting on November 17, 2014. Donations to Christmas Wish Tree will be accepted until January 8, 2015, to accommodate the publishing of the honourees’ names in the January 12, 2015 and January 15, 2015, editions of The Chatham Daily News and the Wallaceburg Courier Press. Donations following the January 8, 2015, deadline will be gladly accepted.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of our 25th Annual Christmas Wish Tree Appeal,” says Michele Grzebien-Huckson, Executive Director, Foundation of CKHA. “A sincere thank you to all of the individuals and businesses who generously support this appeal year-after-year and to those who will make their very first donation this year! With the proceeds from this year’s Christmas Wish Tree Appeal supporting our new campaign to purchase new state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment for CKHA’s Diagnostic Imaging Department at the Chatham and Sydenham Campuses, the impact of your donation will be significant and will greatly enhance patient care at your local hospitals.”
25th Annual Christmas Wish Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Christmas Wish Trees at CKHA’s Chatham and Sydenham Campuses will be illuminated on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to this annual ceremony to enjoy Christmas carols, words from CKHA’s Spiritual Care staff, refreshments and to view the trees which will be decorated in gold, sliver and blue lights – signifying the level of gifts received through this year’s appeal.
About the CKHA Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Renewal Campaign
As part of the Foundation of CKHA’s directive to raise funds to support CKHA’s Highest Priority Needs, the CKHA Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Renewal Campaign has been launched to support CKHA in the purchase of new diagnostic imaging equipment for CKHA’s Diagnostic Imaging Department.
The need to replace this diagnostic imaging equipment has become an urgent priority for CKHA as the equipment is quickly reaching ‘end of life’ and needs to be replaced to ensure that CKHA’s current and future Physicians and healthcare professionals have the best diagnostic tools available, leading to faster diagnoses and ultimately better care for our patients.
Phase 1 of this campaign will focus on the purchase a new CT Scan, a new Fluoroscopy System, new Ultrasound Equipment and a new Bone Densitometer for CKHA’s Diagnostic Imaging Department at the Chatham and Sydenham Campuses. These four key pieces of equipment serve almost every program offered at CKHA and are key for diagnoses in a multitude of cases, including heart, stroke, cancer, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, obstetrics, gynecology and urology, just to name a few.
Even though this equipment is considered essential for care at CKHA, as with all capital equipment needs at our local hospitals, the purchase of this equipment is not supported through government funding. To date, more than $2 million has been raised for this important campaign.
