The fundraising campaign for a heli-pad at Queen Victoria Hospital has far exceeded its target thanks to a major contribution from the North Okanagan/Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District (NOCSRHD).
The board of the local hospital district agreed to put $186,000 from its capital fund towards the heli-pad, meaning more than $600,000 has been raised.
“The health foundation has been overwhelmed with the support since the public fundraising campaign started November 14, 2016,” said the Revelstoke District Health Foundation in a statement. “The success of the campaign speaks volumes about how the community understands the need and urgency. Let the construction begin!”
The health foundation’s fundraising target was $465,000, but they are now well beyond that with the money from NOCSRHD.
“It represents 40 per cent of the project,” said Steven Hui, the co-chair of the fundraising campaign.
Last week, the health foundation received $50,000 from the provincial government on Thursday and $20,000 from BC Hydro on Friday, which put it at its goal of raising $465,000.
The big surprise was that the NOCSRHD voted to allocate funding from its capital budget at its meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 28.
“The heliport project at the Queen Victoria Hospital is clearly a community priority that will enhance our ability to provide timely critical emergency care for our residents and visitors,” said Loni Parker, a director with the NOCSRHD. “I’m very pleased that the NOCSRHD Board recognized this and supported the funding request from the Revelstoke District Health Foundation.”
The health foundation also received commitments for in-kind donations worth tens of thousands of dollars, said Hui.
Interior Health will plan and manage the construction of the heli-pad.
Hui said what will happen to the additional funds needs to be discussed.