Thanks to Cochrane and Area Victim Services (CAVS), the Cochrane and Area Health Foundation (CAHF) has received its largest donation to date.
On May 26, representatives from Victim Services, which is currently winding down its operations, presented a cheque for $100,000 to the foundation to help enhance health services in the community.
CAHF chair Brian Winter says $75,000 of the donation will be used to assist in improving safety at the Cochrane Urgent Care Centre. The remaining $25,000 will be allocated to future health-related projects.
“That’s the largest donation we’ve received since the health foundation was formed, so it’s quite a feather in our cap,” said Winter.
Victim Services chair Maxine Wilton, past chair Brenda Sine, and board member Betty Goodsell were on hand to present the donation.
Wilton says RCMP Insp. Dave Brunner helped bring attention to the need for enhanced safety measures at the urgent care facility.
“I think for us as a board, we recognized the impact it would have on the community as a whole,” she said. “It was important to us to choose not-for-profit charities where we could have a great impact for a lot of people, and we know this is a project that will do that.”
As the province transitions victim services to a regional model, the local organization wanted to ensure any surplus funds are returned to the community. This donation is one of six being made.
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A day earlier, CAVS donated $50,000 to Cochrane Search and Rescue to help replace one of its aging rescue units.
The CAHF was approved by Alberta Health in spring 2023 and later received charitable status from the Canada Revenue Agency. The foundation is focused on improving the quality, provision, and accessibility of healthcare for residents of Cochrane and the surrounding area.
Not long ago, CAHF helped fund free child and infant health workshops offered by Cochrane Emergency Training Services. offered by Cochrane Emergency Training Services (CETS). It also supported Cochrane Search and Rescue with the purchase of life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Tax-deductible donations are welcome to help further the foundation’s efforts. More information about CETS is available here.