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Have you ever stopped by one of our gift shops to buy something special for a loved one or for yourself? If so, you actually bought two gifts. Proceeds from every sale help support hospital services and programs that make a difference for our patients.
In other words, that stuffed animal you bought? It may have helped us buy an MRI machine!
Our gift shops are run by The Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary, an incredible group of volunteers and staff dedicated to in-hospital fundraising. Over the past decade alone, they have donated more than $14 million to our hospital.
The Auxiliary is similar to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, which also supports the hospital (let’s hear it for our incredible Foundation!), but there’s a big difference between the two. While the Foundation’s focus is mainly to inspire support from the community, Auxiliary volunteers do their work inside our hospital, at both the General and Civic gift shops, the Auxiliary Shop at the Civic, and art sales located near the shops. Proceeds from those sales are then donated back to The Ottawa Hospital, both through the Foundation and directly to the hospital, so they can be put to work to help patients.
Here are some of the ways that The Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary is helping us support our patients, their families and our community:
Helping the hospital purchase major medical equipment
In 2020, the Auxiliary completed its largest donation ever to The Ottawa Hospital, at $2.7 million, allowing us to purchase an MRI machine for the Breast Health Centre at the General Campus, which is due to be installed in 2024. In 2022, the Auxiliary donated $2.5 million to the hospital, allowing us to purchase more than 60 pieces of equipment for departments across all three campuses, including a ventilator and an x-ray system. And in 2023, a major gift from the Auxiliary allowed the hospital to acquire 14 new cardiac monitors, which have recently been installed in our emergency rooms at the General and Civic campuses.
Supporting vulnerable patients during their stay and when they go home
The Auxiliary is there to help all our patients, including those who lack financial or family support. The Auxiliary’s emergency clothing cupboards provide patients in need with clothing and necessities to ensure they maintain their dignity both during their stay with us and when they leave for home. For patients requiring additional support at home, the Auxiliary offers them the option to purchase medical supplies and equipment in the hospital before they leave us. For patients staying with us long term, the Auxiliary can provide toiletries, wall clocks and even TV subscriptions–help that reduces their isolation in the hospital.
Helping our nurses continue their education
For health-care providers, enhancing their education is key to enhancing patient outcomes. And as the medical needs of Canadians grow more and more complex, this education becomes more and more important. Every year, the Auxiliary awards continuing education bursaries to our nurses so they can hone and diversity their skillsets.
Funding research to find new treatments
In collaboration with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, the Auxiliary provides annual support to our Ophthalmology and Neuroscience departments. This funding is generated from Legacy Endowment Funds and supports research in each department, helping The Ottawa Hospital attract the best and brightest medical researchers who can find new treatments for vision loss, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and more.
Making the shopping experience easier than ever before
Do you have a loved one who’s staying with us? You don’t have to visit our campuses to find a great gift or provide them with the essentials they need during their stay. With the new online Gift Shop, you can shop from the comfort of your home and have the items delivered right to their room.
Explore The Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary’s new online Gift Shop.
Support patient care and research at
The Ottawa Hospital
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