Mystery Donor Gives $22 Million Donation for Healthcare – largest gift ever received in Foundation’s 50-year history
March 10, 2021 (YARMOUTH, NS) — The people of Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne Counties in Western, Nova Scotia are in awe of the generosity of a community-minded individual who donated $22 million to the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation (YHF).
Jody Shelley has teed off for the last time at Jody Shelley’s Golf Fore Health tournament.
Since 2005, the former NHLer has been the face and patron of the tournament which has generated $523,000 for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation (YHF) to purchase equipment for the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, which serves Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth Counties.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced the Foundation to cancel the golf tournament, along with the Spring Gala, for 2020. Prior to the pandemic Shelley had already decided to announce that 2020 would be his last year for involvement in the event to which he has so generously lent his name and his time. The decision was based on his schedule and other commitments. Shelley now works with the Columbus Blue Jackets and is a colour commentator in Fox Sports Ohio. He remains the most popular Moosehead ever. Last November he was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. “The Foundation is tremendously grateful for the impact that this local sports legend and leader provided to the success of past events,” says YHF Board Chair Dr. Harold Cook.
Covid-19 raises stakes for Spring Appeal
The Tri-County Betterment Association is stepping up again to support healthcare in western Nova Scotia, with a $10,000 donation to the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation’s (YHF) Spring Appeal.
“This gift is greatly appreciated as the Spring Appeal has taken on increased importance this year, given the impact the Covid-19 crisis has had on healthcare and the economy nationwide,” says Foundation Board Chair Dr. Harold Cook. Continue Reading
The emergence of the Covid-19 crisis is impacting the delivery of health care in Western Nova Scotia in many ways, including the fundraising activities of the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation.
Two of the Foundation’s major events — the Spring Gala and Jody Shelley’s Golf Fore Health — have been cancelled in their normal format for this year, Board Chair Dr. Harold Cook has announced. Continue Reading
More people in Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties can receive specialized health care services closer to home thanks to collaboration, careful planning and a generous contribution from a Clare community group to the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation. A new urology program began serving patients from across the tri-counties at Yarmouth Regional Hospital in January, 2018.
Taking a closer look at cancer services in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties
Nova Scotia Health Authority’s (NSHA) Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program is conducting a review of cancer services in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties, to determine the feasibility and sustainability of adding radiation therapy services at Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
“Being diagnosed with cancer is stressful and patients and families in southwestern Nova Scotia have told us that traveling to Halifax for radiation therapy is an added strain,” said Dr. Drew Bethune, Medical Director, Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program. “They have asked us to take another look at the possibility of having these services at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital and that’s what we are doing. We are also considering other supports to help improve access to care for patients when they need to travel for specialty cancer services.”
Healthcare foundations are coming together as a collective to raise awareness about the essential work they do to support and enhance the delivery of health care in Nova Scotia.
November 27, 2017 marks the first provincially recognized Healthcare Foundations Day observed by the 41 foundations that directly support the hospitals and health centres operated by Nova Scotia Health Authority. The day is held in recognition of the significant contributions Foundations make to the health system across the province.
Elisha Stairs can’t forget the day someone came into her office and announced that they planned to attempt suicide immediately after that meeting.
Stairs kept her cool and used her training to eventually help the young person to develop a safety plan for the rest of the day. She was just a phone call away for the rest of the day and at home in the evening.
The support worker/program coordinator at the Tri-County Women’s Centre credits the training she received in the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) offered as part of her Mental Health Recovery and Promotion course at Nova Scotia Community College Burridge Campus with allowing her to resolve this life-threatening situation safely.
The recent grassroots movement demanding a radiation therapy centre for the Yarmouth area is a welcome development for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, says its chair, Don Cook.
The Foundation Board has been working quietly behind the scenes for some time to explore the need for a cancer radiation treatment centre for western Nova Scotia to be based at Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
The possibility has been on the radar ever since the Dr. Edwin Janke Cancer Centre opened in 2009 to serve Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne Counties. It offers chemotherapy and a variety of other cancer services and support.
