Local hospital foundations will be receiving between $100,000 and $250,000 from Bruce Power.
It’s part of the nuclear operator’s $1.45 million commitment over five years to ten local hospital foundations.
This is the third year of the five-year commitment.
Bruce Power says the funds can be used at the discretion of each hospital foundation to address any emergent needs that have arisen due to the pandemic.
Bruce Power’s Director of Community, Media Relations and Economic Development John Peevers, says in a statement, “The intent of the commitment we made in 2019 was to assist local hospitals in providing the best care possible,” adding, “So much has changed in that short time, especially in the health care sector, that funding priorities may have shifted for these organizations, so we want to make sure the hospital foundations know they have the flexibility to allocate the funds where they’re needed most.”
Additionally, in 2018 Bruce Power announced it would focus $2 million of its Corporate Social Responsibility budget between 2019 and 2023 on health care, mental health and education initiatives. They say, with the increased need in these areas – including the donation of over 2.5 million pieces of personal protective equipment – due to the pandemic, this commitment was met in 2021, and will exceed $3 million by 2023.
Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation Executive Director Tracy Murray says, “As with most charitable organizations, the pandemic has added an element of uncertainty to the fundraising efforts for local hospital foundations, so the five-year pledge from Bruce Power helps make planning easier.”
The five-year commitment announced in 2019 pledged $250,000 each to the Bruce Peninsula Health Services Foundation, the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation, and $100,000 each to the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation, the Wingham District Hospital Foundation, Alexandra Marine & General Hospital Foundation, Walkerton & District Hospital Foundation, Meaford Hospital Foundation, Chesley & District Health Services Foundation, and Hanover & District Hospital Foundation.
