Role of the Enfant-Jesus Hospital Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Enfant-Jesus Hospital Foundation Inc is a non-profit hospital foundation created in 1988 to support the Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus RHSJ in Caraquet, New Brunswick. Its primary role is to raise and manage charitable funds in order to improve health care and related services for the surrounding community. Over the years, the foundation has transferred more than two million dollars to the hospital for projects that enhance the quality of care and the comfort of patients and their families.
The foundation runs structured fundraising programs throughout the year, including an annual campaign, major campaigns, special events, planned giving, in memoriam gifts and multi-channel donation options. Amounts collected are allocated to priority projects such as the purchase of advanced medical equipment for emergency, medicine, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and nutrition, as well as to spiritual care and an endowment fund that secures the foundation’s long-term stability.
Funding themes and types of support
- Medical equipment and infrastructure: Annual campaign pages describe in detail equipment financed or targeted, such as rapid infusers for the emergency department, specialized beds and mattresses, rehabilitation devices, interactive projectors for seniors, scales and wheelchairs. These investments aim to modernize the hospital’s equipment and improve patient safety and comfort.
- Clinical and support services: The foundation also invests in projects that strengthen clinical services and patient experience, including oncology, palliative care, ambulatory clinics and other specialized services available at Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus.
- Endowment fund: A dedicated endowment fund is maintained to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the foundation and to guarantee ongoing capacity to support future projects and generations of patients.
- Spiritual care: The foundation funds initiatives that provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and their families, including improved spaces and resources as well as access to spiritual care providers, in line with a holistic approach to healing.
- Bursaries and professional development: Through its bursary fund, the foundation offers scholarships to support the continuing education and professional development of Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus staff. A formal bursary application form is available, showing a structured program of financial assistance.
Supported audiences and overall impact
The direct beneficiaries of the foundation’s funding are, first and foremost, patients and families using the Enfant-Jésus Hospital’s services in the Caraquet region and northern New Brunswick. By equipping departments such as emergency, medicine, nutrition, physiotherapy and cardiac rehabilitation, the foundation helps reduce travel, improve access to care locally and increase the quality and safety of treatments.
Healthcare professionals at the hospital are also key beneficiaries. The bursary fund finances additional training and skills development, which in turn raises the standard of care for the community. Spiritual care initiatives provide broader support by addressing emotional and spiritual needs of patients of all faiths or beliefs.
Transparency, governance and accountability
The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors, with designated roles such as president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary and other members, including an ex officio representative and clinicians. This governance structure ensures that funding priorities align with hospital needs and community expectations.
To maintain transparency, the foundation publishes annual reports detailing its financial results, donations received and funded projects. Reports covering many years are made available online, together with lists of donors for certain years. These documents provide stakeholders with a clear view of how funds are collected and invested in the hospital.
Partnerships, campaigns and community engagement
The foundation’s model relies heavily on community mobilization and partnerships. Signature initiatives include the annual campaign, the Roses Radiothon, the Northern Star campaign in collaboration with several northern New Brunswick hospital foundations, and the Grateful Patient program, which allows patients and families to recognize caregivers through donations in their honour.
Civic organizations, businesses and individuals can also organize their own activities to benefit the foundation, creating an ecosystem of grassroots fundraising. The foundation communicates its results and impact through news releases, newsletters, testimonies and social media, emphasizing the message of supporting quality care close to home.
Overall, the Enfant-Jesus Hospital Foundation acts as a key philanthropic partner for Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus, managing multiple funding streams and programs that translate community generosity into concrete improvements in health services, equipment, training and support for patients and staff.