Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation is embracing a new approach to donor engagement as the first healthcare organization in Canada, and only the second organization nationwide, to launch an artificial intelligence-powered Virtual Engagement Officer through Version2.ai, powered by Givzey.
The new technology introduces Emma, CKHAF’s Virtual Engagement Officer, who is designed to help supporters stay connected to the Foundation and the impact of their generosity by sharing updates, answering questions and providing personalized opportunities to get involved in supporting local healthcare.
For CKHAF, the initiative represents an exciting opportunity to use new technology to enhance donor engagement, creating more ways to build and strengthen meaningful relationships with the people who make its work possible.
“Our donors are at the heart of everything we do, and we are always looking for ways to make their experience with our Foundation more personal, accessible and meaningful,” said Christine Mitchell, President & CEO, CKHAF. “We are proud to be at the forefront of innovation in healthcare philanthropy, but what excites us most is what this can mean for our supporters. Emma gives us another way to stay connected, share the impact donors are making and help people engage with our mission in ways that are relevant to them.”
Emma was introduced to an initial group of CKHAF donors this summer and will connect with supporters by email and text throughout the year. Through these one-to-one conversations, donors can receive updates from CKHAF, ask questions, learn more about the impact of community support and explore opportunities to become more involved.
The initiative also aligns with CKHAF’s new 2026-2031 Strategic Plan and its focus on strengthening donor stewardship and helping the community better understand the impact of its generosity. By creating additional opportunities for timely and personalized communication, Emma will help the Foundation remain connected with more supporters while complementing the personal, human relationships that remain at the heart of CKHAF’s approach to fundraising and donor stewardship.
“We are thrilled to partner with Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation as they become the first healthcare organization in Canada to introduce a Virtual Engagement Officer,” stated Emily Groccia, Vice President of Customer Success | Director, Version2.ai. “CKHAF understands that technology is most powerful when it helps organizations build stronger human connections. Emma will provide another way for supporters to engage with the Foundation in a personalized and accessible way, while helping CKHAF deepen the relationships that make its mission possible.”
The partnership reflects CKHAF’s ongoing commitment to finding new and innovative ways to connect the community with Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and ensure donors have a meaningful role in advancing local healthcare.
“Technology will continue to change how organizations connect with the people they serve, but for us, the purpose remains the same,” added Mitchell. “Every gift begins with a person who cares about healthcare in this community. If we can make it easier for that person to connect with us, learn about the difference they are making and find the opportunities that matter to them, that’s a meaningful step forward.”
Supporters can meet Emma and learn more about CKHAF’s Virtual Engagement Officer at www.ckhaf.ai.
