The Yukon Hospital Foundation has announced details of its new fundraising campaign for 2009, while extending appreciation for ongoing support from Northwestel and other supporters.

Foundation representatives and hospital staff gathered today outside the Northwestel Centre for Medical Imaging at Whitehorse General Hospital to present Northwestel with a thank you card, which thanks the company for the support it has given to hospital fundraising and the Yukon Hospital Foundation since 2003. It was signed by representatives of the Yukon Hospital Corporation and the Yukon Hospital Foundation.

“Northwestel has been a huge supporter of fundraising efforts for our hospital,” said Scott Kent, Foundation President. “For the past seven years, Northwestel has been generous with financial contributions, as well as in-kind and volunteer support. This has been key to the success we’ve achieved so far in improving health care for Yukoners. For that, we extend our deepest appreciation to Northwestel, as well as to the many others who have been part of this effort.”

The Foundation works to enhance diagnostic and treatment services at Whitehorse General Hospital. Since 2003, Northwestel has provided a total of $570,000.00 in financial and in-kind commitments to hospital fundraising efforts. Its support continues through ongoing sponsorship of the Northwestel Festival of Trees, an annual fundraising event held in the weeks before Christmas.

“Northwestel is proud to be a part of such a giving community,” said Northwestel Vice President Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer, Jason Bilsky. “The Yukon Hospital Foundation has been a wonderful focus for our own company and many other Yukoners who want to help make the territory a better place to live.”

The Yukon Hospital Foundation also announced the fundraising focus for its annual campaign. Picture Perfect Health is raising funds to convert one of the hospital’s X-ray rooms to digital technology.

“Digital technology provides a number of important and exciting advantages for patients and health care providers,” said Kent. “Digital images are clear, high quality and high resolution. They are more easily transportable, allowing for more effective information-sharing and consultation between health care providers. They don’t require as much storage space and they can be made available much more quickly, because film developing time is eliminated. This technology also cuts examination time for patients and reduces wait times.”

Yukoners can contribute to the Picture Perfect Health campaign by participating in the upcoming 2009 Northwestel Festival of Trees or by donating via the Foundation’s direct mail appeal. As well, Yukoners may learn more about the Foundation and donate online by visiting www.yhf.ca.

This year’s Northwestel Festival of Trees is taking place from November 19^th through the 28^th. Changes to this year’s activities include the introduction of an event for families, the Skookum Asphalt Brunch with Santa, and a new location for some of the activities. The main Yukon Government building on 2^nd Avenue will be the site of the downtown exhibit of trees and will host the BAH Humbug Cocktail Party as well as the Santa Brunch.

The Picture Perfect Health campaign is being carried out in conjunction with Under Our Wing, an ongoing campaign to advance medical technologies. Since its launch in September 2005, Under Our Wing has raised $1.8 million in cash and commitments.