In a joint statement, Hospice Chair Kim Stephens-Woods and Foundation Chair Craig Kerr explain the benefits of the charitable foundation.

“The Bridge Hospice Foundation is a natural step forward as The Bridge Hospice continues to evolve and grow.

“The financial support received from the Ministry of Health does not fully cover the costs to operate our hospice home – making effective charitable appeals essential to ensure future viability.

“The Foundation will focus on increasing fundraising efforts to offset costs of operating the hospice and to assure the very best provision of end-of-life care for years to come. The community has worked so hard to establish and support The Bridge Hospice. We want to carry their tremendous efforts forward to fulfill our promise by managing funds professionally for long-term sustainability.”

Led by a professional fund development Executive Director and operating with minimal overhead, the Foundation will be located in the lower level of the Hospice and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors – several of whom also serve on the Hospice Board. The overlap will ensure continuity and transparency between the two bodies.

Donations will be directed to the Foundation in order to support the hospice. The Foundation will channel back the dollars it receives that are needed to meet the current and emergent operational needs of the hospice.

Hospice Executive Director Kerri-Anne Kidd welcomes this next step.

“The efforts of the Foundation will allow all of us at the Hospice to devote 100% of our attention to caring for our residents and supporting their families.”