On the evening of November 24, East Kootenay Foundation for Health and its star sponsor the East Kootenay Community Credit Union joined together to launch the annual Starlite Campaign for Excellence in Health Care with a hope of lighting all 17 stars and raising $100,000 by the end of January 2012.

“Wow does time goes by fast, all our marketing materials are stating the 4th annual Starlite Campaign when actually it is the fifth,” shares a giggling Donna Grainger, EKFH executive director. “When my board chair and I sat down to go over the past successes I couldn’t believe the star campaign was turning five years old.  It truly just took me by surprise and it wasn’t until today that I realized I was out a year.”

The evening included a warm welcome by EKFH chair Linda Berukoff who highlighted the history of the stars ‘a campaign that is unique in that the donor can direct their gift where they wish to go such as a department, facility or a special area of care.’

The inaugural lighting began in 2006 with 10 stars on the roof line of the East Kootenay Regional Hospital and was expanded to 17 in 2008 and received fantastic support from donors throughout the region.

In 2006/2007 (year one):  Fundraising goal was $50,000, end result 10 stars lit and donations totaling $54,000 plus. The unrestricted gift portion was allocated to purchase equipment (under $5,000 for hospitals and residential care homes throughout the East Kootenay) and included several restricted donations in support of oncology.

In 2007/2008 (year two):  Fundraising goal was $50,000, end result 10 stars lit and donations totaling $55,000 plus.   The unrestricted gift portion was once again allocated to help purchase equipment (under $5,000 for hospitals and facilities throughout the East Kootenay); restricted donations were designated to areas of care such as oncology, pediatrics, palliative and emergency.

In 2008/ 2009 (year three): Fundraising goal was $85,000; end result was 12 stars lit and donations totaling $63,000 plus. The unrestricted gift portion was allocated to purchase various equipment different areas and was highlighted by designating over $50,000 plus to purchase a node biopsy probe (used for cancer biopsies) for the EKRH surgical team.

In 2009/2010 (year four): Fundraising goal $85,000, end result was a historic lighting of 17 stars and donations totalling over $90,000 plus. The focus of these unrestricted dollars were aimed at senior programs throughout the region and included several restricted donations again for oncology and a major gift of $20,000 that recognized four stars in support of equipment for the Swan Valley Lodge in Creston.

In year 2010/2011 (year five): East Kootenay Foundation for Health is encouraging donors who wish to support the Starlite Campaign, and who may not have a specific cause in mind, to dedicate their gift toward the A Clear View project to bring a digital stereotactic mammography unit to the regional hospital.

Before lighting the stars, Grainger publically recognized the EKFH Board of Directors for their work and for believing in the Starlite Campaign, the East Kootenay Community Credit Union for their 6-year supporting sponsorship and the amazing Starmakers who were the ones who literally brought the dream to “light.”

With that said, the lighting began.

The signature star is compliments of the East Kootenay Community Credit Union and their branches in Cranbrook, Fernie, Elkford and now Sparwood.  EKC and its membership have a strong community purpose and a vested interest in supporting regional health care.  EKFH is extremely proud of its ongoing relationship with EKC and the many contributions it and its members have provided over the past several years.

This year’s Starlite Campaign has aligned itself with EKFH’s efforts to fundraise for a digital stereotactic mammography unit for the regional hospital. The second star represents those who know firsthand the impact of a breast cancer diagnosis.  The Abreast in the Rockies Dragonboat Association made up of survivors and their supporters once again showing their leadership in the fight of against breast cancer with a $5,000 gift.

Making its first debut with the Starlite Campaign is star three lit by Falkins Agencies of Cranbrook. The $6,000 gift by the Falkins Group didn’t just stop there, they not only believed in the Starlite Campaign  it is their desire to bring digital mammography to the regional hospital that also led the way for the next star.

Gore Mutual Insurance takes the stage as star number four. Working in partnership with Falkins Agencies, Gore Mutual Insurance has a direct understanding of the insurance side of a breast cancer diagnosis. Encouraged by Falkins owner Bob McGill, Gore Mutual Insurance decided to lend its support to this initiative by also making a $5,000 donation in support of mammography.

The community of Cranbrook may well remember Terry Parsons, the former owner of Alpine Toyota. This week Terry made a surprise visit to East Kootenay Foundation for Health to present them with $5,000 as an appreciation and encouragement gift to many people living in the East Kootenay. This donation is also earmarked for the mammography fund.

The five stars concluded the launch of the stars and the fundraising begins with $28,350 towards the $100,000 Starlite Campaign goal. These gifts added to the already running digital stereotactic mammography project bring the A Clear View fund to precedence $546,833 in donations and pledges.

In closing out the launch evening Grainger shared, “I would like to say that it never ceases to amaze me the generosity of people, especially those living here in the East Kootenay. Over the next couple of months more stars will light up thanks to donations from people near and far remembering someone, honouring someone, directly because of the cause, as a thank you, as a holiday gift and some paying it forward including a mother diligently fundraising to light a star for her son, three hockey players trying to continue on a tradition, and those who simply know the power in giving.”

EKFH has been blessed with many positive things and the Starlite Campaign just being one of them. If you wish to make a donation to health care this holiday season, please visit the EKFH websites:  www.ekfh.ca or www.aclearview.ca.

Photo above – L-R:  Diane Baher (EKC Cranbrook Branch Manager), Sheilah Moore (EKFH 1st Vice Chair), Donna Grainger (Executive Director), Linda Berukoff (Chair) and Brian Clifford (EKFH 2nd Vice Chair) at the annual light up of the stars.

Photo compliments of Jane Davies – EKC

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