“Tracey brings more than 30 years of fundraising expertise, communications savvy and non-profit sector leadership to Grand River Hospital Foundation,” said Foundation Chair Helen Friedman.
“She has significant health care experience and both knowledge and understanding of Kitchener-Waterloo’s generous donor community. The Board of Governors is thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with a leader like Tracey. By working together with her, we hope to inspire the community to make exceptional health care a top philanthropic priority in the region.”
Tracey is currently the President and CEO of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation in Toronto. Prior to joining Holland Bloorview, she spent most of her career as a non-profit management consultant, first in her own business and then as a member of the nationally acclaimed KCI (Ketchum Canada) team. During this time, Tracey worked with six hospitals, two long-term care organizations, cancer and heart and stroke charities and a post-secondary institution that educates applied health professionals.
Tracey has directed eight capital fundraising campaigns with goals ranging from $3 million to $500 million. One of these campaigns was Campaign Waterloo.
As a communications specialist, Tracey has experience in public, government and community relations as well as print and television journalism. In the last two decades, she has developed expertise in fundraising communications as well as social profit marketing and sponsorship.
Grand River Hospital President and CEO Malcolm Maxwell added, “Tracey will be a valuable member of the Hospital’s senior leadership team. She is passionate about community health care and I look forward to joining forces with her as we reach out to our community to support the Hospital.”
“As a 20-year resident of the Kitchener-Waterloo-Wellington Region and a beneficiary of Grand River Hospital’s exceptional care, I have watched both the Hospital and Foundation navigate unprecedented health system changes to emerge as a leader in community health,” said Tracey.
“I am honoured to be joining both the Foundation and Hospital teams, and to contribute to supporting the Hospital’s strategy for improved patient care. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to bring my experience, passion and desire to make a difference to my home community.”
Tracey began by saying thank you to the Rotarians present for our ongoing support to both the hospital and its foundation as well as to other groups and organizations in the community such as KidsAbility.
Tracey began her connection with Rotary and community work at the young age of 5 when she attended a Children with disabilities Christmas Party. At the age of 9 she was speaking to Rotary clubs and other service organizations about the Easter seal Campaign.
Tracey spoke about the improvements to the Grand River Hospital and how important it is to our community. It is a regional hospital that provides, along with St. Marys Hospital, for 99% of all needed hospital services in our region. There is no longer a need for citizens to go to Hamilton or Toronto for children's services, heart or cancer treatment. Over 1.3 million people used the services of the Grand River hospital last year with 60% of these coming form the K-W area directly and the remainder from the rest of our Local health Integrated Network catchment area.
Tracey stressed the need for ongoing fundraising in support of the work of the hospital and focused on four numbers:
First Number - Zero - the amount of increase in support to hospitals from the provincial government in the past five years.
Second Number - Zero - the value of the debt carried by the hospital for the last seven years.
Third Number - Zero - the amount of funding provided to hospitals for capital equipment.
Forth Number - $142 million - The forecasted capital need of the hospital over the next 5 years!
Tracey indicated that this represents a need for raising $30 million per year beginning next year. Last year $7.5 million was raised and they are on track to raise $9 million this year so some significant changes and increases will needed in the coming years.
Tracey also provided some thoughts and insights into the state of philanthropic giving today and provided us with two key pieces of advice. First, we need to stop working in silos and need to seek out partnerships and work together. This can be with service clubs coming together or with service clubs working with the corporate sector. Secondly, we need to celebrate our successes and tell our stories. We need to make sure that potential contributors (and members) know the good we do and the results we achieve.
Tracy was thanked by Laura Power from the Westmount Club.
