December 3, 2010/-KINGSTON, ON  
On December 1st, University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) marked its fifth anniversary as the fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care.

Thanks to the generosity of more than 37,000 community donors, UHKF has raised more than $65 million in cash and pledges over the past five years.  The funds support the $70 million Together We Can campaign for the redevelopment of Kingston’s hospitals as well as equipment, research and staff education.

At a meeting of the Board members and Foundation staff, Board Chair Richard Kizell said, “It is clear that this community cares deeply about health care and our hospitals and we’ve all seen first hand just how much.  The response from all segments of our community has been impressive.”

He also remarked “We can see all the exciting evidence of redevelopment taking place at our hospitals.  The new floors on the Kidd Wing and additions to the Burr Wing at KGH have changed the landscape along King Street.  Construction has begun at Hotel Dieu Hospital and site planning is underway for Providence Care’s new facility.  It’s a wonderful feeling to see all of our efforts through this campaign creating new hospital facilities for our community.”

UHKF Fundraising Highlights:

• More than 37,000 gifts have been made to our hospitals from donors across Southeastern Ontario, including individuals, service clubs, faith groups, businesses, and local governments
• Fourteen municipalities across the region served by Kingston’s three teaching hospitals have collectively donated $20 million dollars
• UHKF has received 83 leadership gifts of $100,000 or more
• More than $3.5 million has been raised through community (third party) events
• Hospital staff, physicians and volunteers have provided gifts totaling more than $1.8 million
• Almost 23,000 individual donors chose to make a gift to the hospitals for the first time

Redevelopment Highlights

• Redevelopment projects at KGH to create new or enhanced space for Pediatrics, Intensive Care, Dialysis, Mental Health, Cancer Care and Central Processing are almost 85% complete
• Construction has begun at Hotel Dieu Hospital to overhaul 36,000 square feet of hospital space to create new clinical suites for specialized outpatient visits
• Providence Care is planning a new facility to house Mental Health Services and St. Mary’s of the Lake rehabilitation, complex continuing care and mental health programs