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Penticton patient care tower fundraising going strong

About $14.3 million in donations for the Penticton hospital has come in
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Ongoing construction on the new David E. Kampe Tower at Penticton Regional Hospital is expected to cause delays for foot and vehicle traffic between May 29 and June 6 on Industrial Avenue. Mark Brett/Western News

Other charities, programs and initiatives might be having their fundraising needs eclipsed as attention continues to be focused on equipping the regional hospital’s new Patient Care Tower.

“We knew this five years ago that the hospital was going to suck all the oxygen out of the room and it’s fine,” said Area F director Michael Brydon, noting the hospital is needed and will impact future generations.

Related: Hospital tower to be named after local philanthropist

Directors of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen heard Thursday that so far about $14.3 million in donations for the hospital has come in from the community in the past 36 months.

The money raised by the foundation goes towards equipment and other items. The goal is to raise $20 million before the hospital opens in April 2019.

Carey Bornn, executive director for South Okanagan-Similkameen Medical Foundation is tasked with raising the funds and said in some cases fundraising is about earmarking funds for something specific instead of raising more money. He brought up the example of the Penticton Hospital Auxiliary which generally raises between $40,000 to $80,000 a year for the hospital. The group has committed that fundraising to the patient care tower.

“In five years that’s around $250,000 right there,” he said.

Related: UBC Faculty of Medicine facilities to be named after Melville family

Money has been raised through organization, business, and individual donations. So far, out of the 84 patient rooms, 62 have been named. To get naming rights a $30,000 donation must be made. Other areas in the care tower have been named with donations ranging from $50,000 to $1.5 million.

Bornn said some individuals do continue to donate to local health care programs and patient extended care. He provided a breakdown of donations received over the past 36 months.

Related: Penticton hospital receives half million donation from Kaleden man

Oliver and Osoyoos

total contributions $915,059

$229,559 to local causes

$685,500 to the new tower

Summerland, Keremeos, Princeton

$4,151,000

$819,000 to local causes

$3,331,000 to the new tower

Penticton and area

7,492,000

$6,651,000 to new tower

including George and Sylvia Melville $1.5 million gift

Douglas Dewar’s $500,000

$841,000 to other patient care areas and extended care

David Kampe

$1.4 million for the Spect-CT

$3 million for the MRI machine