Leadership Message

Sooner or later, and often unexpectedly, we all depend on the health care system. And when we do, only the best possible outcome is acceptable. That’s why Calgary Health Foundation and our supporters quickly pivoted during the public health crisis to advance breakthroughs in care, wellness and research. We supported Alberta Health Services by nearly doubling COVID-19 lab testing capacity with generous community contributions, providing tablet computers to isolated long-term care residents to ensure they were communicating with loved ones and bolstering our stakeholder’s emotional health through the “Text 4 Hope” initiative.

Together, we recognized thousands of southern Alberta frontline health care workers with gratitude meals and invested in urgent research to improve COVID-19 treatments. Expectant and new moms received critical mental health supports as they confronted fear and an isolating parenting experience. Further, we leveraged previous investments to provide life-saving interventions for critically ill patients.

Last year’s unprecedented lottery ticket sales resulted in an unexpected and significant contribution to our operating results. Both hospital lotteries exceeded previous sales records, raising over $13.8 million for health priorities such as mental health and perinatal research.

We also achieved a significant milestone in our Newborns Need campaign to advance maternal and newborn care, wellness and research by surpassing $137.5 million of our $152 million investment commitment for the campaign, including securing a $38 million commitment from the

Government of Alberta towards the Foothills Medical Centre neonatal intensive care unit development. We are grateful for our many campaign donors, AHS support and the Government of Alberta’s collaboration to ensure every newborn in our community has a fighting chance. Read more about the Newborns Need campaign impact.

Our organization continues to benefit from the leadership of an extraordinary Calgarian, outgoing board chair, Bill Sembo. Last year, when the global COVID-19 pandemic consumed our health care system, Bill was instrumental in galvanizing philanthropic funding to expand Alberta’s COVID-19 lab testing capacity by 45 percent. Before the pandemic, Bill was the catalyst behind several significant capital investments in health and health research that continue to transform care in our community. While we miss Bill’s expertise on our board, we are grateful for his continued stewardship of our Newborns Need campaign.

It’s a privilege for us to amplify the extraordinary work of our local health care heroes, steward your capital and enhance health outcomes for the community. Thank you for entrusting the Calgary Health Foundation.