Role of KBRH Health Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The KBRH Health Foundation is the philanthropic partner of Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital and associated facilities serving roughly 88,000 residents across 29,000 km² in British Columbia’s Kootenay Boundary region. As a registered charitable society, the Foundation mobilizes individual donors, corporations and community groups to invest in local healthcare. Funds are then directed to priority equipment purchases, capital improvements and patient comfort initiatives that Interior Health budgets cannot fully cover.
Since 1988, the Foundation reports having raised over $29.7 million to advance healthcare. Its portfolio includes large, multi‑year campaigns such as the Orthopedic Enhancement Project, Emergency Department upgrades, Tier 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ambulatory Care improvements, and focused initiatives for elder care, urology, critical care, endoscopy and children’s health. These campaigns finance diagnostic and surgical equipment, renovations and specialized spaces in hospital and long‑term care settings.
Grant contributions and funding priorities
The Foundation explicitly tracks “Funding Contributions from Grants”, allocating more than $1.4 million in 2024/2025 alone. These grant funds are used to purchase specific items across many clinical areas, including maternity and pediatrics, operating rooms, intensive care, renal, ambulatory care, emergency, respiratory, community health and long‑term care. Typical investments include monitors, ventilators, imaging tools, surgical instruments, therapy equipment, furnishings and comfort items that directly improve patient care and staff capacity.
Beyond equipment, the Foundation supports staff education and specialized training, helping clinicians adopt new technologies and best practices. Donors can also designate gifts to departmental or thematic funds, such as Greatest Need, Mental Health, Oncology, Pediatrics–Maternity–NICU, Nursing & Staff Education, Patient Care & Comfort, or specific facilities like Columbia View Lodge and Poplar Ridge Pavilion.
Major campaigns and community engagement
Current priorities are highlighted through large campaigns, notably the $2 million Mental Health Matters Campaign, which aims to revitalize mental health services at KBRH. This initiative funds renovations and equipment for the Daly Pavilion acute psychiatric unit, Harbour House rehabilitation facility and a dedicated pediatric outdoor space, creating safer, trauma‑informed and therapeutic environments for all ages. Another focus is support for the expansion of JoeAnna’s House in partnership with the KGH Foundation, ensuring affordable accommodation for families who must travel for specialized care.
The Foundation engages donors through monthly giving, memorial and tribute gifts, legacy and planned giving, staff lotteries, payroll deduction, events and corporate sponsorships. Public impact stories, audited financial statements and strategic plans published on the website reinforce transparency and demonstrate how community contributions are translated into concrete healthcare improvements.
Mission, governance and impact
The KBRH Health Foundation’s mission is to advance the quality of healthcare, closer to home, by inspiring investment in healthcare excellence for the Kootenay Boundary. Guided by values of integrity, respect, confidentiality and accountability, its strategic plan is structured around four pillars: donor engagement, campaigns and events, foundation excellence and brand awareness. A volunteer board, dedicated staff team and extensive network of supporters work together to identify priority needs with healthcare leaders, steward donations responsibly and maximize regional impact through targeted grants and capital investments.