Northwestel kicked off the 2010 Northwestel Festival of Trees with an announcement of its renewed commitment to support the Yukon Hospital Foundation’s fundraising efforts.

 

The annual Northwestel Festival of Trees was launched Thursday evening at the Capstone BAH Humbug Cocktail Party. The Yukon Hospital Foundation is embarking on a new three-year fundraising campaign to purchase a Magnetic Resonance Imaging – or MRI – machine for Whitehorse General Hospital’s Northwestel Centre for Medical Imaging.

 

“Northwestel has sponsored the Festival of Trees in support of Whitehorse General Hospital since the festival first began in 2003,” said Paul Flaherty, Northwestel President and Chief Executive Officer. “I am very pleased to announce that Northwestel is renewing its commitment to the Hospital Foundation for another $450,000 over five years. This brings the total amount contributed by Northwestel to over one million dollars. All of us at Northwestel are delighted to support the excellent work of the Foundation, to enhance diagnostic and treatment services for Yukoners.”

 

"Due to the generosity of our community partners - such as Northwestel - in addition to the individual donors, businesses and volunteers who come together each year to make the festival such a success, the Yukon Hospital Foundation is excited to embark on our most ambitious fundraising campaign to date," said Scott Kent, Yukon Hospital Foundation President. "The purchase of an MRI for our hospital will have a huge and positive impact on the delivery of health care - right here close to home."

 

The Yukon Hospital Foundation has been in place since 2005 to enhance diagnostic and treatment services at Whitehorse General Hospital. One of its key fundraising activities is the Northwestel Festival of Trees, which takes place each November. The Foundation’s purchases to date include heart monitoring, operating room and digital imaging equipment, and a 128-slice CT Scanner, one of only a handful in Canada.

 

This year’s Northwestel Festival of Trees continues from November 18^th through to November 27^th. The next Festival event is the Skookum Santa Breakfast on November 20^th, from 10 am to 1 pm at the Main Yukon Government Building. The Festival will wrap up with the Seniors’ Soiree on November 26^th and the Alkan Air Grand Ball on November 27^th, both at the Yukon Convention Centre.

 

Yukoners can contribute to the MRI campaign by attending any of the 2010 festival events and by placing bids in the silent auction for the beautifully-decorated donated trees on display at the Yukon Government Building until 5 p.m. on November 26^th. They may also donate via the Foundation’s direct mail appeal. As well, Yukoners may learn more about the Foundation and donate online by visiting www.yhf.ca.

 

 

For more information, contact:

 

Scott Kent                                                      Sunny Patch

President                                                       Corporate Communications Manager

Yukon Hospital Foundation              Northwestel

(867) 393-8930                                             (867) 455-4245

Or visit www.yhf.ca and www.nwtel.ca.