Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation's 25th annual Moonlight Gala raised a record-breaking $1,391,470 earlier this month.
With "There’s No Place Like Home” as its theme, the event on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Tsawwassen Springs brought together more than 350 business, community, government and medical leaders for an evening of community spirit, live and online auctions, a trip raffle, a 50/50 draw, fine dining and entertainment, all in support of the foundation's $18.25-million "Coming Home" capital campaign — the organization's largest-ever fundraising effort.
“Our 25th annual Moonlight Gala has filled me with gratitude for this remarkable community. We want to express our sincere appreciation to everyone involved in making our gala an overwhelming success, including our committee led by co-chairs Natalie Walker and Sarah Gallop, emcee James Cybulski, auctioneer Ian Paton, all of our event volunteers, as well as foundation board and staff,” DHCHF executive director Lisa Hoglund said in a press release.
“We also want to show our appreciation to all our sponsors, donors and attendees. Our collective efforts resulted in a record-breaking $1.39 million raised in support of the new Beedie Long Term Care Centre.”
Announced in June of 2023, the centre will replace the aging Mountain View Manor on the Delta Hospital Campus of Care and expand capacity at the site from 92 to 200 beds while also adding a 32-space adult day program for people living more independently and a stand-alone 49-space childcare facility.
The new long-term care facility — to be named in recognition of Ryan and Cindy Beedie's $5-million donation (the largest in DHCHF's history) — will be built, owned and operated by Fraser Health on currently vacant land next to Delta Hospital.
The centre’s design focuses on small “households” accommodating 12 or 13 residents, each with their own single-bed room and bathroom. These units will also feature social and recreational spaces found in a typical home, such as a living room, dining room, activity space and access to the outdoors, according to a Ministry of Health press release.
There will also be community spaces and services for residents, families, visitors and staff, including art and activity rooms, a hair salon and a sacred space.
Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2027.
At the gala, the foundation gave special recognition to the Delta Hospital Auxiliary Society as this year’s recipient of the Moonlight Gala Tribute Award, sponsored by Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (representing the Port of Vancouver).
In January of this year, the society donated $3 million to DHCHF's Coming Home campaign — a record amount for the auxiliary.
“We were so honoured to award our extraordinary hospital auxiliary with the Tribute Award this year for their inspiring generosity and commitment to healthcare in our community,” DHCHF board chair Andrew Jackson said in a press release.
“Through all their volunteers and countless hours, the Delta Hospital Auxiliary Society raises funds through their entrepreneurial efforts to ensure the most critical needs at the Delta Hospital campus are funded.”
The foundation also gave special thanks to lead sponsors Shato Holdings Ltd. (venue sponsor), Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (Tribute Award sponsor), City of Delta (Healthcare Champion sponsor), Pacific West Real Estate Group – ReMax City Realty (platinum sponsor), RS Gill Express Ltd. (platinum sponsor) and Pinnacle Global Solutions (auction sponsor).
For more on Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation’s Coming Home campaign or to donate, head to dhchfoundation.ca/capital-campaign.
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