Foundation staff supports community holiday efforts

Thursday, December 22, 2011

London Health Sciences Foundation President & CEO Dan Ross, LHSF Leadership Giving Development Officer Shawna Ferguson and AM 1290 CJBK radio host John Biggs with toys donated by foundation staff.

On December 15, London Health Sciences Foundation President & CEO Dan Ross accompanied by Leadership Giving Development Officer Shawna Ferguson and Public Relations Manager Alex Peterson visited the Astral Media radio studios in London to drop off a big box of gifts to Toys for Tots.

The Christmas toy drive is conducted every year by military personnel in London and Stratford to ensure children in need have something under the tree on Christmas morning. Astral Media has been an integral part of the toy drive for several years now and is one of the popular places to drop off toys to help the effort.  This year's goal is to provide toys for more than 2,200 children.

The donations from the staff of LHSF were presented to AM 1290 CJBK radio host John Biggs, who then invited Ross on-air to chat about giving over the holidays. His message was simply to please give what you can to the charity you would most like to support or with which you have a connection. He also proudly pointed out the generosity of staff at the foundation.

"Every fulltime member of the staff gives as a donor to support the hospital, and many have also supported Toys for Tots and the Business Cares Food Drive this year," Ross said.

The day after the visit to Astral, Ferguson was at the Victoria Hospital loading docks helping pack a truck with donations for the food drive. With the foundation's contribution included, London Health Sciences Centre employees, doctors and researchers collected 6,500 pounds of canned and boxed goods for the drive.

London Health Sciences Foundation also offers a unique way to give during the holiday season. The online Moments of Caring catalogue allows people to support the hospital through the purchase of a gift of caring for a friend or loved one who then receives  an email or printed card telling them about the donation. Alternately, gift purchasers can choose to buy a gift certificate so that the recipient can direct a donation to the hospital program, patient care fund or research area of their choice.

To browse the catalogue and make a purchase, people can simply visit www.lhsfmomentsofcaring.ca. It's a great way to pick up that last minute gift with no trip to a busy mall or wrapping required.

Download the PDF