Role of Strathcona Community Hospital Foundation in the funding ecosystem
Strathcona Community Hospital Foundation (STCHF) is a community-based charitable foundation created in 2008 to support Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park, Alberta. The Foundation raises private donations from individuals, businesses and community partners and strategically invests these funds to complement standard government and Alberta Health Services funding. Its financial support allows the hospital to offer a higher level of care and an improved patient experience compared with what core public budgets alone would permit.
Funding priorities and types of projects supported
STCHF focuses its funding on several key areas: the purchase of priority medical equipment, hospital capital improvements, staff wellness initiatives and educational opportunities. Examples highlighted on the site include financing a central monitor screen, procedure chairs, a portable ultrasound, laryngoscope monitor, blanket warmers, wheelchairs and specialized otology instruments. The Foundation has also supported capital projects such as the dedicated IV Therapy Room expansion and patient-experience projects like a large mural and donor recognition wall.
Capital campaigns and strategic investments
The Foundation regularly runs targeted campaigns to address specific clinical needs. A major initiative is the IV Therapy Room capital project, a $1.4 million expansion of the IV Therapy Clinic. STCHF has formally committed to raise $250,000 in community and corporate funding toward this project, in partnership with the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, which cover the remaining cost. Current campaigns also include a goal to raise $70,000 for a new point-of-care portable ultrasound to serve patients in the Emergency Department, Ambulatory Care and the IV Therapy Clinic. Campaign materials emphasize that contributions are invested directly in hospital infrastructure and equipment.
Beneficiaries and geographic scope
Funding from STCHF is directed primarily to Strathcona Community Hospital, indirectly benefiting residents of Strathcona County and surrounding areas who rely on this facility. The Foundation reports that in a recent year it invested over $187,000–$189,000 in equipment, staff wellness and education at the hospital. By monitoring the evolving needs of patients, families and staff, STCHF channels donor dollars into projects that increase capacity, improve safety and comfort, and enhance overall quality of care.
Community engagement and philanthropy
The Foundation engages the community through annual events such as a golf tournament, themed campaigns and the “Friends of the Foundation” monthly giving initiative. It cultivates long-term relationships with corporate partners and individual donors, offering recognition on a donor wall, on its website and through campaign materials. Through this ongoing community philanthropy, STCHF functions as a dedicated funding partner to the hospital, aligning local generosity with concrete healthcare improvements.