Annual Report - Northern Health

Northern Health FoundationThe Northern Health Foundation made significant progress in 2011-12 towards achieving its fundraisingand strategic goals. After a period of consolidated strategic planning and the establishment of a transparentgovernance structure, the Foundation’s renewed fundraising and communication activity began in earnest andhas already delivered strong results.FundraisingWith a target of raising $3 million within two years, the NorthernHealth Foundation warmly welcomed many new philanthropicfriends and partners this year including:Mr Paul Wheelton, OAM whose generous $500,000gift will help fund the construction of Northern Health’sTeaching, Training and Research Precinct. Mr Wheelton is apassionate supporter of education and a firm believer in thepower of education to change lives which is why he choseto so generously support the training and education of thenext generation of medical professionals at Northern Health;Abbott Vascular, the global leader in cardiac and vascularcare contributed $220,000 towards an OCT imaging systemfor The Northern Hospital’s Cardiology Department;Medtronic, one of the world’s largest producers of medicaldevices, continued their generous support of NorthernHealth with a generous pledge of $45,000 towardsfunding a Research Fellowship which will help train healthprofessionals for the future;Clifford Hallam Healthcare, one of Australia’s largestproviders of healthcare products and keen supportersof teaching and research, contributed $25,000 towardsNorthern Health’s Teaching , Training and Research Precinct;andTuri Foods, long time local supporters of Northern Healthhave generously donated $15,000 towards an Infant IsoletteIncubator for the Special Care Nursery.In addition, the Northern Health Foundation and Places Victoriahave launched the 2013 House and Land campaign where wewill work with partners to build and auction a new family homein Epping and raise $400,000 for the Teaching, Training andResearch Precinct.Growing our supporter baseThe Foundation undertook a broad range of activities this yearto increase awareness of our fundraising goals in order to growthe total number of contributors to the Foundation each year.With a focus on producing effective communications,the Foundation developed a new brand identity anda comprehensive donor communication strategy. A newsuite of information materials was produced targeting specificdonor audiences with a general information pack, corporatebrochure and bequest brochure s being distributed to existingand potential supporters and displayed throughout NorthernHealth facilities.The Foundation also developed and launched a brand new,easy to navigate website that showcases Northern Health’swork, provides regular fundraising updates and encouragesnew supporters.The Foundation’s supporter base has grown significantly as aresult of these activities. One of the higher profile supporters tojoin the Foundation this year was Melbourne Victory, with theteam visiting the paediatric ward in February to spend time withsome of Northern Health’s youngest patients.The Batten Society, named in honour of Les and Muriel Batten,who once owned the land where the Northern Hospital is nowlocated, is another special supporter group whose membershave chosen to leave a bequest to Northern Health. Meetingevery three months, the Batten Society comes together tohear updates from Northern Health senior executives, receivehospital tours and enjoy guest speakers over lunch. Membersoften assist with volunteering or providing help for key NorthernHealth Foundation activities.The support of Northern Health staffA key aspect of the Foundation’s work is to enlist the valuablesupport of Northern Health staff as much as possible. Byformally launching a Work Place Giving program, the Foundationhas made it easier than ever for staff to make a differencethrough regular support and already more than $6,000 hasbeen raised through fortnightly deductions.Several staff have also taken a personal approach tofundraising, with members of the Cardiology team led byAssociate Professor William van Gaal, contributing more than$7,000 in a workplace donation to support completion of TheNorthern Hospital’s new Cardiac Cathetar Laboratories.Jason Brook’s big hearted fundraiser for two very sick childrenin the Children and Adolescent Health Unit saw him cut his longhair for the first time in three years in order to raise $7,000 tosupport the families of the two children.Northern Health staff also participated in the Arthurs Seat Bay2 Bay bike ride in April, with the ‘Dream Team’ raising valuablefunds for the Foundation.11/12 Northern Health annual report 35