Will you open your door and answer the call for local healthcare?
WRHN Foundation is expanding our communication to donors and community members.
Soon, you may get a telephone call, a text message, or a visit from us at your door. You can use this webpage to verify a call, text, or visit.
WRHN Foundation is working with fundraising partners to help us reach out to community members in new, more personalized ways.
We’ll share updates about our work, answer your questions, and invite you to support local healthcare at WRHN.
Tele-fundraising and door-to-door fundraising explained
Calls are being made on behalf of WRHN Foundation by Engage Fundraising. Door-to-door visits are being made on behalf of WRHN Foundation by Globalfaces Direct. Both are trusted fundraising partners. Their work will begin in July, 2026.
Whether the conversation is over the phone or face-to-face, our representatives will share how donations to WRHN Foundation help strengthen healthcare close to home, now and into the future. That means letting you know how your monthly gift funds care today, and paves the way for WRHN’s long-term redevelopment vision and the new acute hospital planned for the University of Waterloo campus.
Door-to-door visits and telephone calls give us the chance to meet our community members directly and create more personal connections. This is your healthcare system, and we want you to feel the impact of your generosity.
- Always make sure the person calling or knocking at your door can identify themselves and explain why they’re contacting you.
If you’re not sure who the person is affiliated with, ask again. Our canvassers carry photo ID badges and wear vests branded with WRHN Foundation’s logo.
Why you’re receiving a call, text, or visit
You may receive a call or visit if you have supported WRHN Foundation, Grand River Hospital Foundation, St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation, or related healthcare initiatives in the past, or if you are a member of the community who may be interested in learning more about supporting local healthcare.
What will happen during the call or visit
A representative may ask if you would consider making a donation to WRHN Foundation. You are welcome to ask questions, request more information, or contact WRHN Foundation directly at 519-749-4205 or info@wrhnf.ca to confirm the campaign.
Expanding fundraising — why now?
As we get closer to building our new hospital, there are current priority needs across WRHN’s care areas that need urgent attention. Monthly donations help us elevate care across all WRHN sites.
Everything from lab and pharmacy tools to cancer treatment equipment and large diagnostic machines, it’s all funded by community support.
- WRHN serves more than 1.4 million residents today — about 10 per cent of Ontarians
- WRHN is currently 145 beds below the Ontario average for its population size
Calls and visits from our fundraising partners will help us reach more community members and share why this work matters.
Thank you for your support.
Want to learn more? Browse these other FAQ’s or contact us for more information.
How do I confirm a call or visit?
If you receive a phone call or visit and would like to verify that it is legitimate, please contact WRHN Foundation directly at 519-749-6797 or info@wrhnf.ca
How do I identify a WRHN Foundation fundraiser?
For security and recognition purposes, all WRHN Foundation fundraisers wear a WRHN Foundation branded shirt or vest and identification badges. Their tablets allow us to track their locations and securely process donations electronically.
Where did you get my phone number?
Our fundraising partner uses calling files compiled from public and proprietary data sources, as well as previous campaign information where applicable. For privacy reasons, we may not always be able to confirm the original source of a specific phone number.
What times are calls made?
Calls are typically made Monday to Saturday. Weekday calling generally takes place between
9:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., and weekend calling generally takes place between 12:00 p.m. and
6:00 p.m.
Can I be removed from future calls?
Yes. If you would prefer not to receive future fundraising calls, we would be happy to add your number to our Do Not Call list.
Was the call I received legitimate?
WRHN Foundation is currently working with a fundraising partner to conduct telephone
fundraising calls, so the call may have been legitimate. To help us confirm, please verify the phone number that appeared on your call display with our approved call display list:
- List 1
- List 2
- List 3
If the number does not appear on the approved call display list please let us know what the number is and we will confirm with our fundraising partner. If you would like us to confirm a donation amount, review a pledge, or look into a call for quality or service reasons, we can ask our fundraising partner to review the call.
Is my information secure?
The door to door fundraiser will enter and submit your information into a secure tablet, where your information will be encrypted. A verification call and or email will take place to verify the payment information for accuracy.
Are you asking for donations specifically for the new hospital?
The new acute hospital is a major project the Foundation is helping move forward, but gifts through this campaign also support today’s care and priority needs across the network.
Doesn’t the Government cover most of the hospital’s expenses?
Government funding is important, but it does not cover the full cost of exceptional care, new equipment, technology, or future growth. Donor support helps bridge that gap and strengthens care across WRHN.
Why is the new hospital such an important focus?
Waterloo Region is one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada. Our team members, doctors, and volunteers provide excellent care, but the community has outgrown our aging infrastructure.
Over the next two decades, almost 2 million Ontarians will come to WRHN for care, and hospital use among seniors is expected to rise by 170 per cent. WRHN is already 145 beds below the Ontario average for its population size, and to keep pace, our network will need more than 500 additional hospital beds.
Building a new hospital is how we meet that need. It will also open the door to stronger research, education, innovation, and technology in local healthcare. In the meantime, we are renovating WRHN @ Midtown, expanding WRHN @ Chicopee, and maintaining WRHN @ Queen's Blvd. until its programs and services move to the new hospital.
How much of my money will actually go to Hospital programs and care?
According to WRHN Foundation’s 2024/25 Impact Report, 70.8 per cent of expenses went toward hospital equipment and programs funded.
Where does my donation go?
Your gift supports WRHN Foundation and helps fund priority needs across Waterloo Regional Health Network, including equipment, programs, diagnostics, patient care, and future healthcare planning.
Why should I support WRHN Foundation instead of waiting for the new hospital to be built?
The new hospital is an important future project, but patient care needs exist right now. Your gift helps support today’s care while also helping prepare for tomorrow’s growing healthcare needs.
Will my donation stay local?
Yes. Gifts to WRHN Foundation support local healthcare for patients and families across Waterloo Region, Wellington County, and beyond.
When will I receive my tax receipt?
If you have made a monthly gift, you will receive an annual tax receipt in February for all gifts made in the previous calendar year. Tax receipts are issued with your current mailing address and sent to the email address provided at the time of sign-up. If there is no email address, we will send the tax receipt by regular mail. Please contact us if you prefer to receive a print tax receipt.
If you have made a one time gift, you should receive your tax receipt within 2 weeks.
How can I change or cancel my monthly gift?
You can decrease, upgrade or cancel your monthly gift at any time by contacting us by phone at 519-749-6797 or by email at info@wrhnf.ca. Any cancellations or changes made to a monthly donation will receive an email or phone call confirmation.
Can I donate online instead?
If you prefer to make your gift online, you can sign up for a monthly donation.
How will I know if  I am officially a WRHNF donor?
After signing up, you will receive a confirmation email. If you choose to donate by credit card, your first gift will be processed immediately. You will also receive a welcome package (via mail or email).
Please check your spam folder in case the email confirmation landed outside of your inbox.
You should receive your welcome package within one month of your sign up date. If you haven’t received any of the above please call us at 519-749-6797 or email info@wrhnf.ca.