In 1966 Richmond Hospital opened to serve a vibrant community of 50,000 inhabitants.  It was a bright, new, modern facility featuring all the features one would expect for health care in the 60's.  Well, not quite, as it happens, the community pitched in on several occasions to provide additional beds and equipment over the years and now that the population is over 200,000, the hospital, frankly cannot cope.  Local resident, former doctor and Honorary Rotarian, Tony Yurkovich and wife Nancy Yurkovich initiated a drive for a new Critical Care Tower.  They made a transformational lead gift towards the project. It is the single largest donation in the history of the Richmond Hospital Foundation. Since then, the Government of BC announced a green light on the project.  Now funding is underway to reach a goal of $50 Million. 

 

Touring the hospital is an eye opening experience, the facilities are short in many aspects, infrastructure, equipment, beds....even such things as earthquake and flooding preparedness remains unresolved.

 

President Dean thanked the Hospital Foundation, Executive Director Natalie Meixner and Nancy and Tony Yurkovich for arranging the orientation, tour and lunch.  President Dean also announced that some of the proceeds of the upcoming Chinese New Year dinner will be earmarked for the Hospital Foundation project.

 

For the 11th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.

 

The Foundation earned the recognition for demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.