A message from our leadership
With the official amalgamation of Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) Foundation, our legacy foundations united as one, bringing together two teams passionate about supporting care in our community in more enriching ways.
With the help of donors like you, WRHN Foundation supports the full circle of care across all three WRHN sites: Midtown (formerly Grand River KW campus), Queen’s Blvd. (formerly St. Mary’s), and Chicopee (formerly Grand River Freeport Campus).
This past year has been a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together.
These three sites now operate under a shared vision — one where every donor, every gift, and every act of kindness works together to build something bigger than ourselves.
It’s been incredible to witness our community rise to the occasion and fuel meaningful change.
And we're already seeing the impact we can have on community healthcare when we work together.
We see it in the way you helped us surpass $1 million raised at our annual road hockey tournament for children's cancer care; in the way community members have stepped up this year to create their own impactful fundraisers; and in the recently acquired equipment that's already making a difference in care for patients across our community.
WRHN Foundation’s name is new, but our purpose and drive remain the same — to fuel innovation, connection and impact in healthcare through the power of giving. Our values — trust, transparency, collaboration, innovation and excellence — guide us through our mission. And your support is instrumental in everything we do.
This is a long-term journey. And we're just getting started.
Together, we're shaping the way WRHN can deliver healthcare to meet our community's current and future needs.
We’re so grateful to have you by our side.
Ashley Howat
VP, Strategic Initiatives
Jaime Wilson
VP, Development
Board of Directors
We’re proud to welcome and recognize the dedicated members of our Board of Directors. Their leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment guide our work and help ensure we remain focused on our mission to strengthen healthcare across our region.
We are grateful for their service and honoured to work alongside them in building a healthier future for all.
Supporting the needs of a growing region
After Grand River and St. Mary’s hospitals merged in April 2025, the two former hospital foundations came together to better support our region’s healthcare needs.
The new WRHN Foundation serves as the unified philanthropic arm of Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), building on decades of partnership between the legacy foundations.
This is an exciting moment for our region. By joining forces, we’re creating a stronger foundation for our donors, community members and our hospital partner. Together, we can make an even bigger difference in our community and bring even more support to our hospital network.
- Tobi Day-Hamilton, Board Chair
This transition comes as the Region of Waterloo braces for major growth, with the population expected to exceed one million by 2050.
By uniting, WRHN Foundation is ready to meet the needs of a more diverse, aging population and its growing healthcare demands.
The vital role of foundations
Hospital foundations play a crucial role in bridging the gap between government funding and the true cost of exceptional care. As hospitals face rising demand, aging infrastructure, and the urgent need to keep pace with medical innovation, the support of our community has never been more important.
Together, we are building a stronger, more responsive healthcare system — one that’s ready to meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s possibilities.
Your impact - by the numbers
total revenue in 2024/25
$
0
million
patient visits in 2024/25
0
+
2024/25 Revenue
- Major Gifts (29.2%)
- Annual & Monthly Gifts (11.9%)
- Events & Lotteries (19.3%)
- Legacy & Special Thanks (14.9%)
- Investments (20.8%)
- Other (3.9%)
2024/25 Expenses
- Operational (21.6%)
- Promotion (5.5%)
- Other Operational (2.2%)
- Hospital Equipment & Programs Funded (70.8%)
Major equipment / programs funded
on MRI
$
0
million
on Chemistry Analyzer (Lab)
$
0
million
on SPECT-CT (Nuclear Medicine)
$
0
million
on General X-Ray Equipment
$
0
million
on Ortho Power EQ
$
0
on Retinal surgery program
$
0
chemo chairs for the Regional Cancer Centre
0
Event highlights
Scotland's Yard Road Hockey Classic
Surpassed $1 million net raised in just four years, growing from 43 to 96 teams.
RedDAY presented by Manulife
Raised more than $400,000 for various care areas, including cardiac.
Hike for Health presented by LiUNA!837
Newly expanded Hike event netted more than $60,000.
Spotlight
A community united for our fourth annual Scotland’s Yard Road Hockey Classic
The Scotland's Yard Road Hockey Classic has become one of the most impactful and inspiring community events in our region — uniting players, families, volunteers, and sponsors for one powerful purpose: supporting kids' care.
This year, we proudly surpassed $1 million net raised since the tournament began — an extraordinary milestone made possible by our community’s unwavering generosity and spirit.
Spotlight
She Shares - A growing giving circle
What happens when 100 women come together with a shared vision for healthcare excellence?
She Shares is a powerful example of just that — a collective of women united by their passion for local healthcare. Each year, members combine their donations to make a meaningful impact, deciding together which projects or equipment to support through a collective vote. It’s about connection, community, and creating real change — together.
Donor spotlight:
Why I give
When an anonymous donor — let’s call him Mr. Smith — stopped by the Foundation office this summer, he wasn’t just making a visit. He came with thoughtful questions about the hospital’s greatest needs, its future, and how he could make a difference. After many years of care, he felt it was time to give back.
That same day, Mr. Smith left a $200,000 unrestricted gift to support the hospital’s most urgent priorities — a heartfelt thank-you to the system that had treated him with dignity, compassion, and excellence.
Because of donors like Mr. Smith, our teams can respond swiftly to evolving needs — upgrading equipment, advancing diagnostics, and ensuring exceptional care for our growing community.
I’ve seen what this healthcare system can do when it’s resourced well. My hope is that this gift helps move the needle where it’s needed most.
- Mr. Smith
Patient Story
Grief, gratitude, giving: How a father’s cancer journey is helping others
After losing his father to cancer, Mark Morrison turned grief into action—raising $16,000 for WRHN Cancer Centre to help future patients in his dad’s honour.
Wish Book 2025
Feel the glow of giving
Introducing WRHN Foundation’s 2025 Wish Book, offering donors insight into the type of equipment and programs our community needs at all three WRHN sites, and inviting donors to experience what it feels like to make a real impact on healthcare in this region — to feel the glow of giving.
We're transforming hospital care in Waterloo Region for generations to come with a region-wide initiative that focuses on two key priorities: revitalizing existing hospital infrastructure and planning for a new, leading-edge hospital site that reflects the growing and changing needs of our communities.
The site for the new hospital — the David Johnston Research + Technology Park (R&T Park) at the University of Waterloo — was named in July. The project is now in the planning phase under the leadership of Cliff Harvey, Joint VP Redevelopment.
At its heart, this project is Rooted in Care — committed to building inclusive, modern spaces that will support exceptional care, now and into the future.
This is more than a building project—it’s a people project. We’re working with staff, patients, families, and the broader community to co-design the future of care.
- Cliff Harvey, Joint VP Redevelopment, WRHN
Thank you for making this possible
To our supporters, partners, and community—thank you.
Your support has made a meaningful difference this year—and every day. It ensures that care remains compassionate, connected, and close to home for everyone in our region.
As we look to the future, your continued support will help us take bold steps forward. Together, we are building a healthcare system that reflects the strength, heart, and resilience of our community.
There are many ways to continue making an impact—give online, call 519.749.6797 direct, and more!
Every gift matters. Every donor counts. And together, we are shaping a healthier tomorrow.