October 15, 2008/- Volunteers at Hotel Dieu Hospital delivered the latest installment of a five-year, $1 million pledge to the hospital’s redevelopment campaign when they presented a cheque for $200,000 to hospital representatives and the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation at their 103rd annual general meeting today.

“We realize how critical these funds are for redevelopment at Hotel Dieu,” says Doreen Turner, president of Volunteer Services to Hotel Dieu.  “We’re so pleased to be making this second installment on our pledge, which takes us to just over $400,000 in our total pledge contributions so far.

“With the province paying 90 percent of eligible construction costs, our total pledge of $1 million will ultimately translate into $10 million."

The Volunteers wrapped up their fiscal year with some impressive numbers:

• Big money earners for the organization included the hospital’s Brockview Café ($166,000), Gift Shop ($29,500) and Lottery Booth ($9,000).
• Volunteer hours rose more than 4 percent over the year, with the hospital’s 260 volunteers logging 18,935 hours. 
• At the AGM, 15 volunteers received service pins for anywhere from 5 to 25 years of active service; in total, the group represented 175 years of service to the hospital.

“Our volunteers are the heart and soul of Hotel Dieu,” says Turner.  “Each and every one of us is proud to be supporting the kind of redevelopment of our facilities that will ensure Hotel Dieu leads the way in ambulatory health care.”