Auxiliary donates $1 million to support Transition Age Project

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Hospital gift shop proceeds support family-centred mental health care

From left: LHSC Auxiliary President Isabel Wildfong-Martin, LHSF Vice Chair Sue Carlyle, LHSC President and CEO Bonnie Adamson, LHSC Chief of Mental Health Care Dr. Paul Links, and LHSC Mental Health Care Program Director Dr. Beth Mitchell.

LONDON, Ont. - Today at London Health Sciences Centre's Victoria Hospital, LHSC Auxiliary President Isabel Wildfong-Martin announced a $1 million donation to support the LHSC Mental Health Care Program's Transition Age Project. Money for the donation came from the proceeds of three gift shops and one flower shop operated at LHSC's University Hospital and Victoria Hospital by Auxiliary volunteers.

"The unique gifts offered in the Auxiliary-run stores simply make them a great place to shop for staff, patients and visitors alike," says London Health Sciences Foundation Vice Chair Sue Carlyle. "Most importantly, the proceeds from these shops continue to help our hospital provide the very best of patient and family-centred care."

The Auxiliary works closely with the foundation in understanding and directing their donations to programs and projects which will assist the hospital's doctors, nurses, researchers and staff in providing the best care today and in developing the best care for the future.

The move of many of LHSC's Mental Health programs under one roof at Victoria Hospital last year has already enabled the hospital to provide a continuum of care for children, adolescents and adults, while retaining separate programs, The Transition Age Project will enable a more-seamless transition between these programs for clients.

This project will help those who have traditionally been caught between the worlds of child and adult care or have been followed in the child mental health system, and now - because of their age - must move to adult services.

"The Transition Age Project will identify current services for clients between the ages of 16 and 25 in London-Middlesex and then, through partnerships, help link and coordinate existing services in the hospital and community," says LHSC Mental Health Care Director Dr. Beth Mitchell.

Throughout its more than 85 year history, the LHSC Auxiliary has built a reputation for forward thinking. For example, in 1930 the Auxiliary established the first scholarship for post-graduate nursing studies in North America. Supporting mental health care initiatives is another example of the pioneering spirit of this dedicated volunteer organization.

"Members of the LHSC Auxiliary embody the care and effort that makes our hospital so extraordinary," says LHSC President and CEO Bonnie Adamson. "This gift to support the Transition Age Project at London Health Sciences Centre's Mental Health Care Program is a continuation of the outstanding support and leadership which the Auxiliary has demonstrated throughout its history."

In all, the Auxiliary has now donated almost $7.7 million towards care, innovation research and training at LHSC.

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