Raising money for health care education is an issue that strikes at the heart of many donors.
That relationship has enabled the Okanagan College fundraising campaign for the new Health Sciences Centre now under construction on the 91大黄鸭 campus.
Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus this past year, the Your Students, Our Health campaign has raised $3.5 million, with $2 million of that in the past year, towards its $5 million goal.
The province kicked in $15.4 million towards the project, about 75 per cent of the cost, leaving the college to make up the remainder.
鈥淲e can see the building going up so there is a pressure to meet our funding obligation,鈥� stated Helen Jackman, executive director of the Okanagan College Foundation, the fundraising arm of the college.
鈥淭he plan is still to have the facility open when students return for fall classes in September.鈥�
The college is coming off a successful campaign to raise $8 million for the building trades centre on the 91大黄鸭 campus, and looking past the Health Sciences Centre will be the next project.
The college鈥檚 Capital Master Plan includes a Wellness Centre and Food, Wine Tourism Centre on the 91大黄鸭 Campus. Both of these projects would require provincial approval to move ahead. At this point neither are confirmed.
The next capital project, announced by Premier John Horgan in March, will be the new student residences on 91大黄鸭, Salmon Arm and Vernon Campuses.
But Jackman acknowledges COVID-19 has not made the fundraising task any easier, but yet many donors have stepped forward with individual significant donations.
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With the emphasis on health care, Jackman suggests striking a chord with donors is the students graduating with health care field supporters will be the people caring for us as we age.
Jackman said college grads will filter out into jobs at 91大黄鸭 General Hospital, long-term care facilities, pharmacies and dental clinics.
鈥淕raduates of our health care assistant diploma program are in big demand right now,鈥� she said.
Besides being an upgraded building, Jackman noted the Health Sciences Centre will be outfitted with health are training labs that mirror what students will face in the health care workforce.
She said health program students now take classes in buildings that date back to 1963.
鈥淭hey just don鈥檛 fit the purpose anymore of what and how students today need to learn, so when you think about teaching and learning, it is pretty exciting to see the potential for simulating real-life health care experiences in a learning environment,鈥� she said.
Maxine DeHart, the Your Students Our Health campaign ambassador, said she has been amazed by the generosity of donors in this past year.
鈥淲hen we started this campaign it was pre-pandemic, so we really didn鈥檛 know what the pandemic was going to mean鈥ut people have come forward with significant donations,鈥� DeHart said.
鈥淭he odd thing is the pandemic has helped in a way because it has made people stop and think, 鈥極h God, this is exactly what we need more than ever.鈥� I would not have thought that would have been the reaction.鈥�
Echoing Jackman鈥檚 sentiments, DeHart said people are supporting the campaign because they see the relationship of how health sciences program graduates will be sustaining a health care system that will look after them in the future.
鈥淎nd it is just not about care for seniors. We are talking about physiotherapists, massage therapists, pharmacy assistants鈥ealth care services that benefit people of all ages,鈥� she added.
DeHart said fundraising hurdles caused by the pandemic have been countered by the relationship that Okanagan College has built with the city.
For more info on the project and to donate go to www.ourstudentsyourhealth.ca. To book a tour or donate over the phone call 250-762-5445, ext 4772.
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