Role of Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation in the funding ecosystem
Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation (CCHF) is the philanthropic arm of Cornwall Community Hospital in Ontario. As a registered charity, it exists to close the gap between what the provincial health system funds and what is actually needed to provide high‑quality care. While most operating costs are covered by the Ontario Ministry of Health, the hospital and its surrounding community must finance much of the medical and capital equipment. The foundation mobilizes community generosity and then allocates these resources to purchase priority equipment and support patient‑centred projects within the hospital.
Funding mechanisms and supported initiatives
CCHF manages several giving channels, including one‑time and monthly donations, in‑memory and tribute gifts, gifts of publicly traded securities in partnership with RBC Dominion Securities, legacy and estate giving, and a dedicated “CCHF Forever Fund” endowment. Income from this long‑term fund is used each year to purchase urgently needed equipment and technology at Cornwall Community Hospital.
The foundation also runs community fundraising initiatives and special events, such as the “Dancing with the CCH Stars” fundraiser, where teams compete for funding in the form of $100,000 in medical equipment for a project of their choice that supports patient needs. In addition, bi‑weekly 50/50 lotteries under the Power Pay Day banner generate proceeds that are directed back into hospital priorities.
Beneficiaries and impact
Funding from CCHF is focused on the internal needs of Cornwall Community Hospital rather than on external organizations. Donations are used to acquire state‑of‑the‑art diagnostic and treatment equipment, improve patient comfort and safety, and enhance the hospital’s overall capacity to deliver first‑class care. Clinical teams can benefit from project‑based allocations decided through foundation‑led campaigns and internal priorities, ensuring that donor dollars translate into tangible improvements for local patients.
Governance, transparency and donor services
The foundation maintains dedicated staff, including an executive director, bookkeeper and development coordinators, who support donors with receipts, address changes, tribute gifts and third‑party fundraising ideas. Its communications emphasize that it is not a clinical body but a charitable organization focused on fundraising and responsible stewardship of donated funds. Through lotteries, campaigns and investment of long‑term funds, CCHF plays a central role in sustaining and upgrading hospital infrastructure for the Cornwall community.