Kennisis Cottagers Boost ‘Here for You Campaign’ with New Matching Challenge

To continue the momentum from the previous matching gifts, the record-breaking Health Radiothon, and to raise the necessary funds for urgently needed new x-ray equipment for HHHS, Kennisis cottagers Christine Tutssel and Rob Holl are offering to match all gifts up to $500,000 made in the coming weeks to the Here for You in the Highlands Campaign.

“Haliburton has a very special place in our hearts for our family. Our kids grew up on Kennisis Lake and now our grandchildren are enjoying the same privilege.  That’s why we are challenging all lakefront property owners as well as those in the towns and villages to make a contribution to the Here for You Diagnostic Imaging Campaign.  We will match all gifts from today until the end of October up to $500,000,” said Tutssel.

“Let’s show Haliburton County how thankful we are for everything it has to offer.  We know that many people have already been very generous in supporting the campaign.  But there are still a large number that have the capacity to give but have not yet done so.  We are encouraging them to do so by Thanksgiving to help bring this campaign home,” she said.

“We reside in the Kitchener Waterloo area where resources are relatively abundant to support local needs but the need in Haliburton County is great and resources are far more limited.  We are making this contribution here because we know that in Haliburton, it will make a real difference,” Tutssel added.
Campaign Cabinet Member, Peter Henry welcomed Christine & Rob’s challenge matching gift.  “Several people who own properties in Haliburton but are not here full-time have asked me why they should support HHHS?  For us, it’s simple:  Most of us have made a trip to the HHHS Emergency Department for ourselves, our family or our visitors at one time or another.  We count on HHHS being there when we need it, and we want to make sure that it has the tools it needs to serve us well.”

“This matching gift is very, very generous and we hope that it will encourage many to give, and even to give again.  For those people who support their local hospitals at their main residences, we ask you to consider also contributing to this campaign to get the basic diagnostic imaging resources in place in the Highlands,” he added.

With the extraordinary support of the community during the MooseFM Health Radiothon presented by Minden Subaru, the generous matching donations from Scott & Chere Campbell and Richard Muir are now exhausted. 

 “These matching challenges made a huge impact, spurring additional gifts and momentum in the community” said HHHSF Executive Director Melanie Klodt Wong. “I believe Christine & Rob’s challenge will do the same and reach folks who haven’t thought about us in the past. HHHS is working towards a brighter future and I am grateful that so many people are recognizing this project as the start of something positive.” 

The Here for You Campaign has exceeded the initial goal of $4.3M required to bring a CT Scanner and CT Mammography to the county, plus upgrade Ultrasound equipment and the image archiving system (PACS). The campaign has currently raised over $5M.
“We can't say thank you enough to Christine Tutssel and Rob Holl for giving the campaign this huge boost at this time!” said volunteer Campaign Chair, Tayce Wakefield.

"Our Campaign Cabinet is an outstanding team of volunteers, some with deep roots locally and others who love spending their spare time on our lakes.  When we first met, we asked ‘what’s our stretch target, if we can raise the necessary funds for the initial campaign?’  When we heard that HHHS’ x-ray suite is 12 years old and urgently needs to be replaced, we said we’d do our best to raise the additional funds required to do that, too,” said Wakefield.
HHHSF Board Chair David Blodgett said, “Over 600 members of our community have contributed to this campaign so far.  Thank you to every one of them!  Every donation gets us closer to the diagnostic imaging equipment HHHS so urgently needs.  My thanks also to our dedicated Campaign Cabinet, who are giving their time and experience to help us all.”

The volunteer members of the Campaign Cabinet are Greg Bishop, Kurtis Bishop, David Blodgett, Michael Harrison, Peter Henry, Pat Kennedy, Klara Oyler, Keith Sjögren, Roger Trull, Tayce Wakefield and Dale Walker.

“Since its discovery over a century ago, X-ray technology remains an indispensable diagnostic imaging tool.  We know we are behind in replacing our general x-ray equipment.  According to the Canadian Association of Radiologists, our equipment should be replaced about every 10 years.  More recently, we are experiencing an increase in repairs needed.  We simply cannot be without. We sincerely appreciate how the community has united to raise the necessary funds,” said HHHS CEO, Veronica Nelson.

For further information and how to contribute to the Here for You in the Highlands Campaign, please contact Melanie Klodt Wong, Executive Director, HHHS Foundation at 705-457-1580 and check out our website at hhhs.ca/foundation.