Essential medical equipment generally has to be replaced every 10 years.
With a need to purchase 15 hospital beds and 12 patient monitors for Sault Area Hospital, the Sault Area Hospital Foundation is raising funds through the new Split the Pot program.
Split the Pot was launched in 2023 as a pilot program at Kitchener’s Grand River Hospital and now includes more than 60 hospital foundations across Ontario. SAHF joined the program in early 2024 and is currently holding its fourth and final Split the Pot fundraiser for this year.
Ticket buyers are being offered 31 chances to win $1,000 if tickets are bought before Nov. 20. Early bird winners will be announced daily in December. Tickets can still be purchased after Nov. 20 until the grand prize draw is held Nov. 27.
The estimated jackpot was $1,520,985 as of mid-Saturday, Nov. 16. The grand prize pot was $760,492 and still growing. 60 per cent of the grand prize will go to one winner, 20 per cent split between two winners and 20 per cent divided among 10 winners.
Grand prize winners will be announced Nov. 29.
One Sault winner won over $23,000 during Split the Pot campaigns held earlier this year. There were also nine local early bird winners.
The exact amount of money raised for SAH is yet to be determined because a portion of funds raised goes to the 60-plus hospitals taking part in Split the Pot.
The 12 patient monitors SAHF wants to replace cost approximately $25,000 each, the 15 beds about $10,000 apiece.
Split the Pot tickets range in price from $20 to $100 and are available through the Split the Pot website, a toll free number (also listed on the website) or in person at the SAHF office located near SAH’s main entrance.
Ticket buyers can choose to specifically support SAH or divide it between other Ontario hospitals.
The new beds and patient monitors are only a part of SAH’s needs that SAHF seeks to raise funds for.
“Sault Area Hospital Foundation’s goal is to provide $5 million each year for medical equipment at Sault Area Hospital,” wrote Ashley Cerra, SAHF communications and development officer in an email to SooToday.
A list of SAH equipment needs in individual departments can be found on the Current Needs page on the SAHF website.
“This year, the Foundation expects to provide $7 million. This is a result of an additional $2.8 million in equipment that was deferred from 2023/2024. While work is done each year to bring in equipment, delays in the procurement process can mean funding is deferred to the next fiscal year. The funds for this equipment have already been raised in 2023/2024, but they will be disbursed during the 2024/2025 fiscal,” Cerra wrote.
In this fiscal of 2024/2025, SAHF has paid out $2.1 million for critical medical equipment at SAH.
Enormously popular and established SAHF fundraisers include the monthly 50-50 draw and the annual five car draw.
It is anticipated that SAHF will participate in Split the Pot in 2025.
“Although plans for 2025 are still under development, SAHF has seen a positive response over the past four campaigns and looks forward to taking part in the program next year,” Cerra wrote.
Physician salaries in Ontario are paid through the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Hospital staff are paid from SAH’s operating budget funded by the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry also pays for SAH’s building maintenance including hydro costs.
SAHF is self-sustaining regarding its staff members’ salaries.
That leaves the purchase of SAH medical equipment up to SAHF through fundraising initiatives such as the monthly 50-50 draw, the annual five car draw, donations from Sault residents - and now - Split the Pot.
SAHF is hopeful of donations coming in over the gift-giving Christmas season.
“The Christmas season and the calendar year end is typically a very philanthropic time of year for our community. The busiest charitable season of the year is nearly here and we are on track to meet our goals provided that the community remains as generous as they have in the past,” Cerra wrote.