The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Tough to ask staff to donate to campaign Continued from page 1 3 · Wednesday, January 25, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com tells me that this is an engaged group of people." Triano noted, as long as the excitement level remains high to fundraise, she is confident the foundation will reach its total by the time the new hospital is built. To date, the foundation has received large donations from numerous community members, some of those in the millions of dollars. "It's typical in a campaign that the largest gifts come from those closest to you and to your organization. That really represents the family. It's typical we would approach them first," she said. However, Triano said these donations will not be enough to reach the goal and that donations will have to come from everywhere. "We will continue to reach out to the wider, broader community because, in essence, we won't reach our goal if we don't have $10 donors, $20 donors, every level donor and volunteer along the way." Thursday's event took place in the Parson's Pantry cafeteria at OTMH. Ted Nixon, president of the Oakville Hospital Volunteer Association (OHVA), was among the guests. It was no surprise to him that Inside Opinion.............................................6 Artscene..........................................16 Sports..............................................18 Classified........................................21 Full Delivery: Real Estate, Rona, Hearing Solutions, Salvation Army, Allstate Insurance Company, Peter Markou, Coldwell, JYSK Partial Delivery: Shopping News, XS Cargo, Staples For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com the volunteers would contribute to the hospital financially, he said, because those individuals enjoy being there. "This is a good place to be," said Nixon. "We have a campaign really in what we think is one of the best places to volunteer in Oakville. I think a lot of people may have had a situation in their life where they've had family or friends in hospital and they were looked after well and so they want to pay back." Another supporter of the hospital, Ruth Anne Winter, was present at the celebration. A member of the fundraising campaign cabinet, Winter is a long-time volunteer at the hospital, as has been her family, since OTMH was built. Winter said she also was not surprised about the success of the fundraising campaign "A community hospital is probably one of the most important things for a very high percentage of the families that live here. We have a very unique opportunity right now to build a brand spanking new hospital from scratch. "The bottom line was staff and physicians know why they have to give. They know the importance of their work here." John Oliver, president and CEO Halton Healthcare Services That's an unequaled opportunity," she said. "That's an opportunity that most communities never have a chance to do. It's a very exciting project." Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) president and CEO John Oliver spoke Thursday, admitting he was at first hesitant to approach hospital staff asking them to contribute financially to the new hospital. Oliver said no such campaign has done that since he arrived at OTMH in 1995. "It's with great trepidation you approach staff and physicians," he said. "They work very hard. They feel that they are giving a lot to the organization already and then to turn around and be asking for financial support for the workplace that they are working in is always a challenge." Oliver admitted he had dreaded making the request of staff -- and even envisioned having eggs thrown at him as a result, he said. "I'm happy to say nothing like that happened. The foundation staff did an absolutely fantastic job in their approach to the staff and the physicians," Oliver said. "The bottom line was staff and physicians know why they have to give. They know the importance of their work here. Many of them live in Oakville. This is their hospital as much as it is your hospital when they need to come for care." In the three months since staff were asked to contribute financially, Oliver said they have raised $637,000. Money raised today for the new hospital helps out today as well, added Oliver. The funds pay for equipment that goes to the current facility and when the hospital moves to the new building, the equipment will go with it as well. Helping You Make Smart Decisions About Your Money Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Custom Inground Swimming Pools One Company. One Responsibility. 416-410-2066 · 905-319-7502 Serving the Halton-Peel Region 220 Randall Street · Downtown Oakville Phone: 905.842.2100 www.peterwatsoninvestments.com