Stratford Times September 20, 2024 Stratford General Hospital Foundation nearing ALEX HUNT Times Correspondent The Stratford General Hospital Founda- tion’s (SGHF) 50/50 draw will help with that final push in achieving its $30-million capital-campaign goal. Kicked off in 2022, the In Our Hands capital campaign is now at 95 per cent of its goal. Campaign funds will go toward the purchase of medical equipment as well as the development of the cancer and med- ical centre clinic and co-located pharmacy. “This campaign touches almost every single corner of our hospital. It's so vi- tally important because the government doesn't fund for replacement or new hos- pital equipment,” said Cheryl Hunt, exec- utive director of SGHF. “It is solely on the responsibility of our community to ensure that their hospital has the resources and the tools that are necessary to provide care. The capital campaign is our largest one to date and our community has been amazing with supporting it. N GOAL $30-million fund ising goal (ALEX HUNT PHOTO) tured from left to right are Stratford General Hospital Foundation (SGHF) community manager Amanda Dobson, data, finance and anal; executive director Cheryl Hunt and data and finance manager Melissa Steinbach at the SGHF office. Two early bird draws were pulled on Sept. 10 and 17 for $250 and $500. The first grand-prize draw will be held on Oct. 1 at 9a.m. All tickets must be submitted by lytic coordinator Christy Wood, 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30 to qualify for the draw. Hunt says a standard hospital bed can cost up to $10,000. Along with the pur- chases and replacements of hospital tech- nology, the funds will also be dedicated to supporting the maternal child’s unit, the mental health unit, the emergency depart- ment and operating rooms. “The 50/50 has been great. The trick is trying to make sure the community hears about this because when they are aware, they are supportive,” said Hunt. “Our fo- cus is getting the word out because it's a great way to get engaged in the commu- nity.” SGHF began the 50/50 fundraiser in 2021 to stay active with the community during the pandemic. The draw ran for a year before going into a hiatus before re- surfacing this year to aid in the campaign and boost public interest. Hunt says it’s a wonderful feeling to al- most reach the $30-million goal and she is looking forward to celebrating the accom- plishment with the community. Tickets for the 50/50 draw can be pur- chased at www.sgh5050.ca or in-person at the Stratford General Hospital Founda- tion. Swifties rejoice; United Way Perth-Huron offers chance to w LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent The United Way Perth-Huron (UWPH) is giving locals the chance to win a pair of VIP passes to see Taylor Swift live in concert in Toronto on Nov. 23. Purchase of the raffle tickets, sold at $10 each, help support the United Hous- ing (UH) initiative. United Housing is the region’s first non-profit housing organiza- tion dedicated to building and operating mixed rental units. The two seated-floor tickets are in sec- tion C3, row 10, and are part of the Karma is My Boyfriend VIP package including four Taylor Swift prints, a commemora- tive Taylor Swift/Eras Tour VIP tote bag, pin, sticker and postcard set, souvenir con- cert ticket, and special VIP tour laminate and matching lanyard. “You have to be over 18 to buy tickets and find your own transportation to To- ronto but you don’t have to be 18 to at- tend,” said Rebecca Scott, who works in resource development with UH. “They are floor seats, VIP packages and we are making it really accessible by selling the (raffle) tickets for only $10 and with only 5,000, these are really good odds.” UH wants to make the raffle accessible to anyone in the community, which mir- rors the United Way’s sense of inclusivi- ty for all. The raffle tickets are available within Stratford and Huron and Perth counties. It is cash only and Oct. 16 is the deadline for purchase. The draw will be held Oct. 23 at Junction 56 Distillery. “Tt will be a live, online event, but I'm sure they wouldn’t stop those who have tickets from coming. There is no formal event but it will be at 6:30 p.m. so that families can either tune in or be there,” THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT (CONTRIBUTED IMAGE) The United Way Perth-Huron and United Housing are offering locals the chance to win a 2 pair of VIP tickets to see Taylor Swift in concer said Scott. The VIP passes have been generously donated by Dr. Erin and Mike Heisz, who have been quiet champions of UWPH. “I want to say that Erin has been a very active champion but very anonymous- ly for a while now and this is something that I really give her and Mike, who owns Junction 56, credit for. It’s very kind and generous of them,” said Scott. “They have been generous with their time and energy up until now in other ways but this is the first sort of public way they have helped. They are amazing. It is champions like this that make it possible for the United Way and United Housing to do what they do. You always need those people in the community that can make connections and articulate the need,” add- rt Nov. 23. ed Kathy Vassilakos, director of United Housing. Challenges with housing are across the board now. It’s a very serious topic that af- fects almost everyone. “There is a spectrum of need in hous- ing. There’s not enough rentals, there’s not affordability to purchase, there’s pre- cariously housed or unhouséd individuals, so I think the spectrum of vulnerable has changed,” said Scott. It is United Housing’s mission to address this and build strong, healthy communities by developing, creating, constructing and managing affordable housing in Perth-Hu- ron. The raffle is the UH’s biggest fund- raiser to date, however they are preparing a capital campaign that will raise funds with the issuance of interest-bearing com- in VIP passes to see Taylor Swift nity bonds to finance specific pr mui rojects. “From 2023, from when we officially there has been a lot of activity — Jat , about building capacity. There are prede- velopment studies, engineering studies, but there is also property management with all that goes along with that and partnership development with municipal- ities or property owners,” said Vassilakos. “There will be announcements made in the future regarding properties in Strat- ford.” Something that both Scott and Vassila- kos want recognized is that there is needs for both United Way and United Hous- ing. Each has their own mission, though seemingly related. Through their work with the Connection Centre, they can do everything to help get a person ready to be houses, but without available and afford- able units, there is nowhere for them to go. “Supporting the two initiatives is real- ly important. United Housing is over and above the important work that the United Way does and supports. It’s a tricky con- versation to be had,” said Vassilakos. For more information on United Hous- ing and to join the wait list for commu- nity bonds, visit perthhuron.unitedway.ca/ unitedhousing. Raffle tickets can be purchased in Strat- ford at Blowes Stationery, Juno, Junction 56 and the United Centre. In Listowel, tickets are available at BK Brand Name Clothing and Gifts and Bakelaar Jewel- lers. Tickets are also available at Wuerth’s Shoes and All Around the House in God- erich, Wuerth’s Shoes in Exeter, Sun Rayz in St. Marys, Annette’s Treasures and I Want That Bag Consignment in Wing- ham, Blooms N’ Rooms in Seaforth, and Penny’s and the Pine Café and Bistro in Blyth. NE me aOR ae a