It’s hoped that the Festival of Trees will raise $400,000 this year. Thousands of Grande Prairie families packed the Entrec Centre over the weekend, taking a look at decorated trees and gingerbread houses, and taking part in some holiday fun.
The weekend is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation. Executive director Cindy Park says the support is critical to having the best health care possible for the region.
“Many people have to travel to Edmonton and Calgary and having those sources right here is incredibly important to everyone who lives here. Not only that, having these life saving pieces of equipment actually brings specialists and brings physicians here.”
The hospital foundation is one year into a five year, $20 million capital campaign. It got a boost Sunday at the festival when Pembina Pipelines announced a $100,000 donation.
“We’re greatly appreciative of that,” says Park. “They’re a great community supporter and we’re very lucky and very fortunate that they care about their hospital too. Their donation is going towards the purchase of new equipment for the hospital.”
Two weeks ago the Grande Prairie Sikh community presented a cheque for $200,000 for its trauma centre in the new hospital. The next fundraiser is the 2day FM Cares for Kids Radiothon.
