SCOPE
Fall 2002
Vol. 9, No. 3

Foundation News

Message from the Chair and President
The SCO Health Service enjoys a wonderful reputation for providing high quality care at our three main sites—the Élisabeth Bruyère Health Centre, Saint-Vincent Hospital,and Résidence Saint-Louis—as well as being involved in practical and innovative patient-centered research. In the past year, the Foundation has supported these goals through the dedicated hard work and amazing generosity of our donors, likewise committed to the mission of the SCO Health Service.

The main fundraising focus of the SCO Health Service Foundation is Direct Mail, Major Gifts, and Planned Giving—much lower cost-per-dollar activities than Special Events, for example, which can be quite costly to organize. We are pleased to report that overall, our Foundation has among the lowest cost-per-dollar raised, as compared to other area hospital foundations. This means that each dollar given by our donors goes further—something we’re very proud of.

In 2001, the vision of the Institute on Health of the Elderly, supported by the first Adding Life to Years campaign in 2000, became a reality. Also in 2001, the Adding Life to Years at Saint-Vincent Hospital campaign was launched to help raise funds for the much-needed renovations and expansion of that site.

The Foundation transferred almost $1 million to the SCO Health Service in 2001, and over $400,000 has already been transferred in 2002. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we can improve the quality of life of our patients and residents. During the past year, we’ve purchased much-needed equipment, supported teaching and research initiatives, and contributed to the renovation and expansion of our three main sites, as well as funding many other deserving patient programs and services.

On behalf of everyone at the SCO Health Service, we would like to thank all our donors and volunteers who have given so much of their time, talent, and energy in 2001. We’re most grateful for your support. For their leadership and support, special appreciation goes to the Foundation Board of Directors, to Elizabeth and Tony Graham (Co-Chairs of the Adding Life to Years at Saint-Vincent Hospital campaign), and to the entire Campaign Cabinet. And finally, a heartfelt thanks to the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa whose mission and values continue to inspire the actions of our staff and volunteers.

Jennifer Brunet-Colvey
President

Jim Orban
Chair

Donor Report: Your Support Makes a Difference!
From January 2001 to April 2002, almost $1.4 million was transferred to the SCO Health Service by the Foundation. Donors made a huge difference in the lives of our patients and residents in so many ways. Here’s how:

• Purchase of specialized equipment for each of our three main sites.
• Purchase of special equipment for the Geriatric Rehabilitation program, including equipment for patients’ leisure activities made possible by a generous donation from The Binah Fund established by the Community Foundation of Ottawa.
• Renovations at Résidence Saint-Louis are being completed, especially the washroom facilities on the Level 1 (dementia) unit.
• Documentation Computer Software (including installation and training costs) has been purchased for Résidence Saint-Louis and Villa Marguerite. These specialized systems enhance and simplify the clinical documentation upon which the annual classification of resident care by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is based. Other long-term care facilities that have installed such systems have had their funding increased by up to 12%. Such an increase in funding will have a direct impact on the hours given to resident care and will help the staff to better meet resident needs.
• Proceeds from the Nursing Education Fund established by the Labarge Family Fund were used for tuition support in specialized courses for nursing staff.
• The Geriatric Rehabilitation program benefited from an education endowment, the purchase of sundry education aids, and two research projects (one on nutrition and the other a study on restraints) funded by The Binah Fund.
• Thanks to the generosity of donors who contributed $3.2 million during the Adding Life to Years campaign, the Institute on Health of the Elderly is now functioning with a strategic plan, policies and procedures, and a number of research activities are underway. Some of these initiatives include:
  • The Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly (CanDRIVE) which involves Canada-wide studies on driving-related issues and the development of screening tools for family physicians to use in identifying seniors who are or who might be at risk for driving related accidents;
  • Research on Falls Prevention and Management in a family practice setting will focus on the role of the family physician-client relationship in preventing and reducing the impact of falls on older individuals.
    
• Funding was provided for Café-Spectacle des Aînés where a special entertainment troupe supplied live music and entertainment for patients and residents.

As you can see, our donors’ magnificent support has had an impact on the quality of life of our residents, patients, and staff in many ways. For this we offer our sincere appreciation.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Sources of Revenue

Statement of Revenue and Expenses
Years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001

Funds Transferred to the SCO Health Service in 2001

FOUNDATION NEWS

Board Member Profile: Bill Irwin
Since his recruitment in the fall of 1999, Bill Irwin has been an invaluable member of the Board of Trustees—both as Treasurer of the Foundation Board and, since February 2002, as Chair of the newly-formed Allocations Committee. He brings to these positions a wealth of experience—both as an accountant and as a volunteer.
Born in Belleville, Ontario, Bill has spent most of his life in the Ottawa area. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, he joined Welch & Company in 1970, obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1975, and has been a partner with the company since 1977. Deeply rooted in the Ottawa business community since 1918, the firm has a long history of community volunteering by its partners and staff.

He began volunteering in the ’70s and over the years, has been involved with the Ottawa Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, the Harmer House seniors’ residence, and various youth sports organizations, including the Pinecrest Little League and the Nepean Amateur Basketball Association. “I really appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the SCO Health Service,” says Bill. “And I am quite fortunate to have met many interesting people along the way.”

Bill’s skills and experience as a chartered accountant are certainly appreciated by the Foundation Board. As Treasurer, he ensures that the Foundation’s financial information is current and correctly reported. “Bill is so wonderful to work with,” says Jennifer Brunet-Colvey, President of the SCO Health Service Foundation. “He’s very knowledgeable, a tremendous team builder, and a huge asset to the organization.” As Chair of the Allocations Committee, Bill ensures the priority-based and orderly distribution of the funds raised.

Bill and Pat, his wife of more than thirty years, have three adult children: Emma, Mathew and Hugh. In his free time, Bill enjoys hiking, biking, gardening, travel, theatre, reading, and watching organized sports.

“We’ve come a long way over the past few years,” says Bill. “Ultimately, we are improving patient care, and I look forward to helping this Foundation continue its very worthwhile mission for many years to come.”

“Fore” Patients!
Royal LePage Commercial Real Estate Services recently held a golf tournament that raised $65,000. To date, over $140,000 has been raised towards its five-year, $250,000 pledge to the establishment of Institute on Health of the Elderly. Several Foundation Board members were on hand to receive the cheque, including Jim Orban, Chris McCuaig, Paul Hindo, and Archie McKellar. Sincere thanks to the organizing committee (chaired by Nathan Smith), Samantha Seabrook, and all who sponsored this event.

Recent Gifts and Bequests: Thank You!

• A bequest of $25,000 for the Élisabeth Bruyère Health Centre was received from the Estate of Monsignor Yvon Gélinas.
• RBC Dominion Securities and the Ottawa Airport Authority gave the Foundation a gift of $10,000 for Palliative Care at the Élisabeth Bruyère Health Centre.

Planned Giving
There are many ways of giving to the SCO Health Service Foundation. Some do so by way of a regular donation each month, each quarter, or each year. Others add a codicil to their Will, leaving a bequest to the Foundation. There are other donors who make a significant contribution by transferring ownership of a life insurance policy. The advantage of going this route is that an insurance gift has no impact on one’s Will or primary assets. Whatever way you choose and no matter how large or how small your gift, all donors are important and all gifts are very much appreciated. Without you, we would not be able to continue to provide the high quality care and services for which the SCO Health Service is so renowned.

Update: Institute on Health of the Elderly
The pledges coming in over the next eight years from the first Adding Life to Years campaign will help the Institute on Health of the Elderly implement their strategic plan, adopted earlier this year. The funds will be used to establish the new Chair in Applied Research in Health of the Elderly and to build research capacity. In addition, the Institute intends to focus on recruitment and retention of research staff. In fact, one of the main reasons for establishing the institute was to address the scarcity of researchers with education and experience in the care of the elderly.

The success of this campaign enables the institute to create an attractive research work environment and to recruit scientists and fellows. An incredible amount has been accomplished since the arrival of Professor Larry Chambers, President and Chief Scientist, in July 2001. An aggressive work plan is underway and the institute looks forward to reporting on its progress and achievements in future issues of SCOPE.

CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Adding Life to Years at Saint-Vincent Hospital Campaign
This fundraising campaign in support of the renovations and expansion project at Saint-Vincent Hospital is proceeding as planned, having raised close to $3.4 million to date! “The hard work and dedication by the campaign cabinet and volunteers is certainly starting to bear fruit,” says Elizabeth Graham, campaign Co-Chair. “We hope to have reached 60 per cent before the sod-turning event in the fall, and I’m proud to report that the campaign cabinet is working extremely hard to make this happen.”

In recent weeks there has been a change in the campaign cabinet’s organizational structure. Karen Morrison, with her wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of special events, is now the Special Events Advisor, and Tom Deacon now leads the Major Gifts division. Tom is Regional Director, Eastern Ontario and Atlantic Canada, for Standard Life.

Men of Vision . . . Richard Veilleux and William Shenkman

Saint-Vincent Hospital is so well known throughout the community for its compassionate care and exemplary level of service. What is not well known, however, is that there was an employee who embodied these values in each and every day of his 29 years of service with the SCO Health Service. Many have had the pleasure of working with Richard Veilleux, former Vice-President of Finance, but what may come as a surprise is he is one of the key reasons behind a $250,000 donation to our current campaign—Adding Life to Years at Saint-Vincent Hospital.

Having worked closely with Richard on the Saint-Vincent Hospital Board of Directors as Chair of the Finance Committee back in the mid 1980s and early 1990s, William Shenkman—chairman of an international real estate development corporation—witnessed firsthand Richard’s dedication and unrelenting commitment to the patients of Saint-Vincent Hospital. “Richard always had Saint-Vincent’s patients at the top of his mind. Every decision he made ensured that patient care and services were never jeopardized, but rather enhanced,” said Mr. Shenkman.

Over the last few months, Mr. Shenkman—who no longer resides in Ottawa—has been updated by the Adding Life to Years at Saint-Vincent Hospital campaign volunteers on the renovation and expansion project. As both Mr. Shenkman and Richard were members of the hospital’s Board of Directors that originally founded this project back in the 1980s,

Mr. Shenkman decided that this was the perfect occasion to publicly commemorate Richard Veilleux’s hard work and dedication to Saint-Vincent Hospital. At a special luncheon dedicated to the former Saint-Vincent Hospital Board of Directors last April (featuring special guest Sr. Gisèle Vadeboncoeur, former Saint-Vincent Hospital Executive Director), a formal announcement was made of a $250,000 donation by the Shenkman Family Foundation to Saint-Vincent Hospital’s campaign, in honour of Richard Veilleux. Through this tremendously generous contribution, the Shenkman family has requested the hospital’s new patient entrance be named the Richard Veilleux Patient Entrance. It will be located on the south side of the newly renovated Saint-Vincent Hospital.

“This is an unbelievable honour for me and my family,” expressed Richard. “I am overjoyed by Mr. Shenkman’s generosity and thoughtfulness to both Saint-Vincent Hospital and myself. I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with him and all the wonderful, selfless volunteers and employees of Saint-Vincent Hospital and the SCO  Health Service. I will always carry you all close to my heart.”

Sr. Gisèle Vadeboncoeur also expressed her gratitude at the luncheon. “We are all very moved today by Mr. Shenkman’s act of generosity and compassion for Saint-Vincent Hospital and Richard Veilleux. Being a man of the highest ideals and integrity, Mr. Shenkman is very committed to making a difference in our community by caring for the less fortunate.”

When explaining why he felt so compelled to commemorate Richard Veilleux, Mr. Shenkman summed it up by saying, “Richard made it his personal life mission to make a positive difference in the lives and well-being of Saint-Vincent Hospital’s patients. He is a true role model for all of us.”

SCOPE
Fall 2002
Vol. 9, No. 3