Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Penticton Hospital Auxiliary

The Penticton Hospital Auxiliary, formally the Auxiliary to the Penticton Regional Hospital Society, is a long‑standing volunteer organization that has supported Penticton Regional Hospital for more than a century. Based in Penticton, British Columbia, it mobilizes community volunteers and donors to improve patient care and community health through both hands‑on service and targeted financial contributions.

The Auxiliary generates revenue through fundraising events and by operating or partnering in community services such as Meals on Wheels and the Care Closet thrift store. Proceeds are directed to purchase equipment and comforts for Penticton Regional Hospital, to enhance services in key departments such as the David E. Kampe Tower, oncology, ICU, laboratory, CT scan, and the hospital’s research unit, and to assist community health organizations.

Alongside its volunteer efforts, the Auxiliary plays a clear funding role. Its giving history totals approximately $2.9 million, with over $1.26 million distributed since 2018 alone. These funds are used primarily to buy hospital equipment and support capital projects, including fulfilling a multi‑year pledge for equipment in the David E. Kampe Tower.

The organization also provides direct financial support to individuals and community partners. Through its Community Support activities, the Auxiliary awards two $3,000 high school bursaries each year to students entering health‑related postsecondary programs, linked to its Youth Volunteer Program. It makes discretionary donations to community mental health and support services, such as funding a new water system and winter tires for a vehicle at a Canadian Mental Health Association facility, and contributing items to initiatives like Chemo Care Bags for oncology patients.

The Auxiliary focuses on patients of Penticton Regional Hospital, residents of Penticton and surrounding areas, and youth interested in health careers. Its Meals on Wheels service delivers thousands of nutritious meals annually to people unable to cook for themselves, while the Care Closet offers low‑cost second‑hand goods whose proceeds benefit the hospital and partner health foundations.

By combining volunteer labour, community fundraising and targeted financial contributions, the Penticton Hospital Auxiliary provides a flexible funding mechanism that responds to hospital priorities and local health needs. Its work complements the public health system by financing equipment, small infrastructure needs and supports for patients and families that might not otherwise be covered.

Decisions about services and financial contributions are made under the oversight of a Board of Directors, which approves the supports offered to hospital patients and local residents. The Auxiliary collaborates closely with Penticton Regional Hospital, the South Okanagan Similkimeen Medical Foundation, the Penticton and District Hospice Society and local schools, creating a network that channels community donations and volunteer effort into concrete health benefits.