HALDIMAND—Giving Tuesday, a global initiative encouraging generosity, continues to leave a significant impact on communities worldwide, including Haldimand County.
Falling on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the event was launched in 2012 as a collaboration between the United Nations Foundation and New York City’s 92nd Street Y.
This year, local organizations harnessed the power of the movement to make a difference in their communities.
Chantal Theijn, founder of Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge, described this year’s Giving Tuesday as a transformative moment for her organization. Thanks to an anonymous donor who pledged to match every donation up to $20,000, the refuge raised an astonishing $58,531.
Theijn explained that this amount surpassed their expectations and equates to nearly a full year’s operating budget. She noted the funds would be used to cover general operations, ensuring the continued care of injured and orphaned wildlife.
The Dunnville Hospital & Healthcare Foundation also celebrated a highly successful Giving Tuesday. Interim Executive Director Sandie Heirwegh said the foundation initially aimed to raise $20,000 with the support of the Buma Family, who generously agreed to match donations up to $10,000.
By 10 a.m. that Tuesday, they reached their initial goal and set a new target of $30,000, which they also surpassed.
The funds will go toward the greatest needs of Haldimand War Memorial Hospital and Edgewater Gardens, primarily focusing on acquiring state-of-the-art medical equipment. Heirwegh highlighted how modern equipment not only enhances patient care but also attracts skilled medical professionals to the community.
She also acknowledged the tremendous efforts of the volunteers who supported the campaign despite challenges such as the postal strike. Without the ability to mail 4,100 info packets, volunteers hand-delivered them, a feat that required significant coordination and effort.
Heirwegh expressed her gratitude to all who played a role in the campaign’s success, including local businesses like Barburrito, which provided lunch for the office team. She praised the generosity and dedication of the community, describing it as an honour to be part of such a caring network.
While the West Haldimand Hospital and Healthcare Foundation did not set a specific target for Giving Tuesday, Executive Director Lisa Hostein emphasized its importance as a complementary initiative to the foundation’s primary fundraising focus, the Trees of Caring Campaign.
This campaign, central to the foundation’s holiday efforts, aims to raise over $150,000 to purchase critical medical equipment, including diagnostic hysteroscopes, bariatric beds, and sterilization units.
Hostein explained that funds raised through Giving Tuesday are directed toward the priority medical equipment fund, ensuring the hospital can meet the needs of the growing community.
She noted that the holiday season is a critical time for fundraising in general, and that community support during this period plays a vital role in helping the foundation achieve its goals.
Despite the challenges posed by the postal strike, the foundation remained optimistic about meeting its objectives, thanks to the continued generosity of its supporters.
