Role of the Jeffery Hale–Saint Brigid’s Friends’ Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Jeffery Hale–Saint Brigid’s Friends’ Foundation is a charitable organization created in 1991 to enhance the quality, safety, and compassion of care provided at Jeffery Hale–Saint Brigid’s in Québec City. Over more than 30 years, the Foundation has evolved from supporting the former Jeffery Hale Hospital to backing the broader Jeffery Hale–Saint Brigid’s establishment, which now includes long-term care centres, palliative care, CLSC-type community services, an innovative minor emergency clinic, and targeted services for immigrant and refugee populations.
The Foundation’s core mission is to financially support the development and delivery of linguistically appropriate, high‑quality health and social services, adapted to the language needs of all residents and clients, in both English and French. It channels community philanthropy into concrete projects that directly improve living environments, comfort, access to care, and the overall experience of vulnerable people served by Jeffery Hale–Saint Brigid’s.
Funding themes and typical projects
Each year, the Friends’ Foundation allocates significant funds across multiple sectors. The 2024–2025 Annual Report documents approximately $206,640 distributed to more than 30 projects. Key funded areas include:
- Palliative care at Jeffery Hale, where funding supports upgraded bedding and room décor, zootherapy, massage and clown therapy, welcome and comfort baskets, and family lounge improvements such as aquariums and comfortable furniture.
- Long-term care at Jeffery Hale and Saint Brigid’s, home to close to 250 residents. The Foundation finances recurring initiatives to enrich daily life, such as musical activities, animal-assisted therapy, aquariums, murals on doors and elevators, and projects to promote physical and mental well‑being.
- Outdoor spaces, including multi‑year investments in the Jeffery Hale Terrace and gardens at Saint Brigid’s, with landscaping, plants, tables, chairs, and swings to create attractive, restorative environments for residents, families, and staff.
- Community services in English (SCLA), where funding enhances seniors’ day centre activities, special events, and innovative initiatives like the OASIS home‑based palliative care pilot for English‑speaking clients and caregivers.
- Refugee health services, including the Capitale‑Nationale Refugee Health Clinic, where the Foundation provides emergency support for essential needs and program development to help newcomers integrate and access care.
- Staff recognition and support at Jeffery Hale–Saint Brigid’s, backing employee appreciation activities that contribute to workforce well‑being and, in turn, to better resident and client care.
General evaluation and decision process
The Foundation operates through an active Board of Directors supported by several committees. A dedicated project committee, in place since 2022, reviews project applications originating from managers and teams within Jeffery Hale–Saint Brigid’s. Proposed initiatives are first screened by the establishment’s director and her team for alignment with institutional and CIUSSS de la Capitale‑Nationale objectives.
Committee members then perform individual assessments, hear presentations from project leads, ask questions about expected impacts and feasibility, and score each initiative. Based on these evaluations, the committee formulates recommendations to the Board, which makes final funding decisions. This process ensures that limited philanthropic resources target projects with clear benefits for residents, clients, and staff.
Partnerships and community impact
The Friends’ Foundation collaborates closely with other philanthropic and institutional partners such as the Quebec City English‑speaking Community Foundation (QCESCF), Le Fonds Hélène Mercier, the Saint Brigid’s Guild, and Jeffery Hale Community Partners. These alliances allow co‑funding of major initiatives in palliative care, long‑term care, community programming, and newcomer support.
Through ongoing fundraising campaigns, events, and memorial giving, the Foundation mobilizes donors from the English‑speaking and broader community. Its work ensures that Jeffery Hale–Saint Brigid’s can continually improve facilities, services, and human‑centred programs beyond what core public funding can provide, thereby reinforcing access, dignity, and quality of life for the populations it serves.