Kinsmen’s $225,000 gift to Together We Can brings total giving to more than $400,000

February 9, 2010/- Today Kingston’s hospitals celebrated the announcement of a  $225,000 gift pledged over three years from the Kinsmen Club of Kingston to University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, the fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital, and Providence Care. Today’s gift, which will support the relocation and expansion of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit from Hotel Dieu Hospital to Kingston General Hospital, marks the third time the Kinsmen have made a donation to the hospitals’ $70-million Together We Can campaign, bringing their total campaign giving to more than $400,000.

“This is an exciting day for children’s mental health,” said Dr. Roumen Milev, Head of the Department of Psychiatry for Kingston’s hospitals and Mental Health Program Medical Director at KGH and Hotel Dieu. “The Kinsmen’s gift will help us transform the care environment for children in our community when they are in crisis, providing a more caring and comfortable space that promotes recovery and healing.”

Designed to create a pleasant and custom built therapeutic environment, the new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit will have its own dining room, recreational areas and single rooms.

“The Kinsmen have long been involved in helping vulnerable people in our community through our special projects,” says Mark Donovan, President of the Kinsmen Club of Kingston. “We are delighted to be part of this particular project, which allows children and youth receiving mental health care to have a care environment specifically designed with their needs in mind.”

“We’re excited to be partnering with Kingston General Hospital on this project,” added Kin Life Member Peter Butler. “We believe that the right care at the right time can dramatically improve the lives of these young patients and we know that KGH is well positioned to deliver this care.”

“Once again the Kinsmen Club of Kingston is making a significant investment in the redevelopment of our hospitals,” said Ian Wilson, Chair of Kingston’s hospitals’ fundraising campaign. “Their continuing support of Together We Can is a testament to their commitment to the health of children in our community and for that we are extremely grateful. This gift will help KGH provide the very best mental health care to youth throughout Southeastern Ontario.” The new unit will be named in honour of the Kinsmen Club of Kingston.

The $70-million Together We Can campaign is the largest and most important health care fundraising initiative in the history of Southeastern Ontario. Led by the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, the joint fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care, the campaign will raise money for the redevelopment of our hospitals, the purchasing of equipment and the funding of medical research and staff education. To find out more about giving opportunities or to make a donation call 613-549-5452 or tollfree 866-549-5452 or go online to www.kingstonhospitalsfoundation.ca.

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For more information please visit the Kinsmen website

Please see backgrounder for information about the redevelopment of the acute Mental Health Inpatient Program.

Contact:
Denise Cumming, University Hospitals Kingston Foundation
Phone: (613) 549-5452, ext. 5911
Email: denise.cumming@uhkf.ca