Pumpkin Carving Makes a Difference

In October, FH&P Lawyers held the second annual Pumpkin Carving Contest that Alexandra and her daughter Olivia were voted the winner. Part of her prize was making a donation to a local charity of her choice in her name.  She and her daughter decided upon JoeAnna’s House, part of the KGH Foundation.

The $500 donation assisted a family from Nelson who needed to stay at JoeAnna’s House for 22 nights with their premature son. Their family penned a heartfelt letter to the KGH Foundation which CEO Doug Rankmore shared with former KGH Foundation chair and current Associate Counsel at FH&P, Wes Shields.

Dear Wes,

“The first thing the woman who welcomed us said was ‘we’ve been expecting you.’ It’s hard to fully express how that feels.”

There are the words of Troy Corbin from Nelson, the father of Zander who was born unexpectedly premature and spent the first several weeks (22 nights) of his life in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kelowna General Hospital.

“Amidst so much chaos and uncertainty, finally, there was some peace. We knew we were in a safe place. It felt like home. I hope people know the profound impact their generosity has. To all who gave and continue to give, there are no words to represent the depth of gratitude.”

Your generous donation of $500 in honour of your pumpkin carving contest winner, Olivia Collins, will support families like the Corbins, who must travel from their homes in order for a loved one to receive life-saving specialist care at KGH. At any given time, one in four beds at Kelowna General is occupied by a patient from outside the Central Okanagan. Just steps from KGH, JoeAnna’s House provides refuge from long days and a place to connect with others who are navigating a similar, difficult path.

World-class health care starts at home. Your donation may inspire others to do the same. We’d like to acknowledge your support in our materials. If you wish to remain anonymous, simply contact us and we will ensure your name is not published. If you have provided us with his wish previously, we will, of course, continue to respect your privacy.

Doug Rankmore, CEO
KGH Foundation