Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Lacombe Health Trust

Lacombe Health Trust is a community-based charitable organization dedicated to strengthening health care in Lacombe, Alberta and surrounding areas. Formerly known as the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre Foundation, it has been a registered charity since April 2012 and focuses on ensuring that local donations to health care are used in ways that are most meaningful and impactful for the community. The Trust works closely with the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre and Alberta Health Services to identify priority needs and provide financial support.

The Trust mobilizes resources to fund projects, medical equipment purchases and education initiatives for health care workers and patients. Examples highlighted on the site include operating-room lights and surgical beds, hi-low and bariatric beds for acute care, geriatric and pay-as-you-go wheelchairs, an ultrasound machine, a fetal monitor, laboratory equipment, physiotherapy equipment, dining room furniture for extended care and other items that improve patient comfort and safety.

Funding from Lacombe Health Trust is directed primarily to the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre and related local health programs. Key themes include upgrading critical clinical areas such as the emergency department, trauma room, operating room and acute care units; enhancing diagnostic and monitoring capacity; supporting rehabilitation and physiotherapy; and improving the quality of life for residents in extended care.

A major example is the renovation of the local emergency department, a $3.1‑million project led by Alberta Health Services, for which the Trust pledged $1.3 million toward new equipment and construction costs. The Trust also funded an earlier feasibility study on patient flow, demonstrating its role in both planning and capital improvements.

The Trust’s financial capacity comes from individual donations, commemorative gifts, planned giving, third-party fundraisers and its long-running Lacombe Hospital Charity Golf Classic. Community members and businesses can support the "greatest need" fund, honour caregivers through grateful patient giving, or organize their own fundraising events and direct proceeds to the Trust. Donor recognition, including a permanent donation wall in the hospital, highlights cumulative giving and reinforces transparency and accountability.

Lacombe Health Trust is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees made up of local professionals, health providers, business owners and community leaders. The board provides oversight on how donations are allocated, approves projects and ensures that funds are spent in ways that align with community priorities for health care. Annual reports and public recognition of funded projects help demonstrate impact and maintain trust with donors.

Through this combination of community fundraising, responsible stewardship and targeted investments in equipment and facilities, Lacombe Health Trust plays an important role in enhancing health services for the approximately 25,000 people served by the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre.