At Grand River Hospital, we are planning for the future, and invite your participation. Our ability to address the ongoing health care needs of our community can be achieved through your generosity. A planned gift is usually made from assets, and is a tax-effective way of giving. Click below for information on

Bequests in your will
Gifts of Securities (publicly traded stocks)
Endowments
Your planned giving Q and A
Further information request

Bequests in Your Will

The Grand River Hospital Foundation is pleased to accept bequests – each and every gift amount goes a long way. We know that you need to make philanthropic decisions that take into account your personal and family needs. A bequest to Grand River Hospital is a wonderful legacy, and one that will touch patients and our community for years to come.

We can provide you or your legal advisor with wording to assist in preparing your bequest gift as outlined in your will. Please contact us.

As well, we would be pleased to meet with you (and/or your legal/financial advisors) to discuss how an estate gift can help patient care at Grand River Hospital, and meet your philanthropic goals.

Please note that if you are thinking about making a bequest to both Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital, we can arrange to meet with you jointly.

For more information, please contact:

Jane Jamieson, CFRE
Manager, Major Gifts
Grand River Hospital Foundation
835 King St. W
Kitchener, ON N2G 1G3
Phone: (519) 749-4300 Ext. 2504
Fax: (519) 749-4354
E-mail: jane.jamieson@grhosp.on.ca

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Gifts of Securities

Donating publicly traded securities is becoming an increasingly popular way to make a charitable donation. It is quick, easy, and has excellent tax benefits for the donor.

Normally, when you sell a publicly traded security, you must pay tax on 50% of gains realized. However, when you donate a stock to a registered charity, the capital gains tax is eliminated. In addition, a charitable donation receipt will be issued. Securities can be easily transferred with the help of your financial institution.

For more information, or to arrange a gift of securities, contact:

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Endowments

Donating to an endowment is another way to leave a lasting legacy to Grand River Hospital. Money in an endowment fund is invested in perpetuity. The annual interest will purchase patient care equipment, improve facilities, fund research projects or provide educational opportunities for hospital staff.

You may choose to contribute to one of our existing endowment funds or set up a named endowment.

If you are contributing to an existing endowment, any amount of gift is gratefully appreciated. When you make your donation, just let us know which fund you wish to contribute to.

Existing Endowments:

• Dr. Brian Dingle Endowment Fund. This endowment partially supports the continuing education of nursing or allied health professional staff within the hospital who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the cancer patient’s experience. The remaining funds will be used to fund educational speakers on cancer care on-site for all nursing or allied health professional staff.
   
• Valerie Corcoran Endowment. Named in Valerie’s memory, this endowment supports the general purposes and programs of the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre.

• Helen Graham Endowment. This fund will support the general purposes and programs of Grand River Hospital Foundation.
   
• Rev. Dr. Grand MacDonald. The purpose of this fund is to support all areas of education and training opportunities for staff working with patients in the Palliative Care/Pain and Symptom Management Care at Grand River Hospital.
   
• Dr. Donald W. Geiger Lectureship Endowment. Interest on the endowment will be used annually to provide honoraria for one or more outstanding clinical speakers as determined by the Freeport Physician’s Education Committee.
   
• Dr. Neils Hansen Endowment. The purpose of this fund is for scholarships to aid in funding professional development activities for employees working at Freeport Health Centre as determined by the Freeport Physicians Education Committee.
   
• Lucy Winkler. Named in her memory, Lucy asked that the endowment be used towards the area of greatest need at K-W Health Centre.
   
• The Kitchener-Waterloo Nurses Alumni Association Endowment. This endowment is to be used annually to provide funds for education. A portion the annual interest will be partially used for professional development activities for RNs in Outpatient Departments. The remainder will be used for library materials for the nursing staff at Grand River Hospital.
   
• Elsie Trowse O’Brian Endowment Fund. To be used for continuing education of Registered Nurses at Grand River Hospital.
   
• Nadine Willard Endowment. To support needs existing at the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre.
   
• Dr. John R. O'Brien OB-GYN Endowment Fund. This endowment is to support all areas of educational and training opportunities for staff working with obstetrical and gynaecological patients. Staff can include nurses, medical doctors, and support staff from childbirth, gynecology, inpatient surgery, operating room and post op care, and ambulatory outpatient departments. This fund should exclude department equipment purchases and salaries

A minimum contribution of $25,000 is required to establish a named Endowment Fund honouring a donor, a family member or a loved one. To make a donation to an existing endowment fund, click here.

For more information on setting up a named endowment, please contact:

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Your Planned Giving Questions and Answers

Q. I have a specific direction as to how I want my planned gift used. Can you accommodate my wishes?

You can certainly choose to give to an area of the hospital which is important to you. For example, you might want your gift to go to the program or service areas such as the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre or Renal services or research and education. We recommend you contact us early on in your decision making process for clarification of your gift designation. GRH Foundation also receives gifts to the “area of greatest need”.

Q. What happens if I make a planned gift to a hospital service that ceases to exist?

If a gift cannot be applied for the purpose expressed by the donor, the funds may be used for other related purposes as approved by the Grand River Hospital Board of Governors. The Board gives utmost consideration to the donor’s original wishes.

Q. Will you recognize my estate gift?

If you wish to be recognized during your lifetime, we are pleased to do so. This recognition helps encourage others to give through their will. However, we also recognize that an estate gift can be a very personal matter. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, we will honour your wishes.

Q. My legal advisor wants to know all your hospital and foundation’s legal names. What are they?

The Grand River Hospital Foundation fundraises for the Grand River Hospital which incorporates:

• Kitchener-Waterloo Health Centre
• Freeport Health Centre
• Grand River Regional Cancer Centre

Q. Are there other forms of planned gifts accepted by the foundation.

We accept gifts of life insurance, charitable remainder trusts, and gift annuities.

Contact us:

We encourage you to seek professional legal, estate planning and financial advice before deciding on any course of action.