St. Joseph’s Health Centre has received a $1 million donation from the Ireland family which will be allocated towards state-of-the-art equipment needed for patients and residents.
As a recognition of the gift, the main lobby of St. Joseph’s Health Centre on 100 Westmount Rd. has been renamed to The Robert Ireland Family Lobby.
Robert and Sharon Ireland have been very active in the community with their business Guelph Tool & Die Ltd. founded in 1965 which is now known as the Guelph Manufacturing Group.
They have a history of volunteering and philanthropic leadership in the community and St. Joseph’s Health Centre and continue to support the centre as their son Rob Ireland, president of the company, is a part of the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation board.
“For the Ireland family, giving back to the community has always been a pivotal part of their lives,” said chief executive officer of St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation Sera Filice-Armenio.
“Their support has had a profound impact in the health and wellness of our patients and resident and their generosity has touched countless lives over the years.”
Filice-Armenio said the gift will specifically be allocated towards the purchase of equipment used to manage pain and foster mobility, comfort and independence in patients and residents.
Rob Ireland said as he and his family reflected upon the many outlets to donate to -just like anyone else- they thought about marginalized communities, disaster relief situations, and ravaged parts of the world. And while these are all important places to give, Rob emphasized that there is also a need for direct community support as well.
“When we talked about how best to support that need, we see our local health care facilities in their many forms as a way to be able to impact many people across a greater region,” said Ireland.
“This organization plays a vital role in our greater community. Without St. Joseph’s, most facing significant injury, disease or disability may not be able to obtain the excellent care they require.”
President of St. Joseph’s Health Centre, David Wormald said the state-of-the-art equipment plays a critical role in helping patients.
St. Joseph’s Health Centre is a fully accredited not-for-profit provider of rehabilitation and has 240 long term care residents that include support for seniors, 86 in-patient specialty hospital beds that include complex care, palliative care and specialized rehabilitation care.
The centre has outpatient clinics that include occupational and physiotherapy services, speech therapy, and amputee care and outreach programs for patients with living with Dementia, Alzheimer's and Acquired Brain Injury.
Wormald said while the government does offer some funding, St. Joseph’s requires a significant amount of investment each year for which government funding falls short.
“There just simply isn't enough,” said Wormald.
“It's only through remarkable acts of community generosity such as the one we're witnessing today with the Ireland family that St. Joseph’s will be able to provide an exceptional level of care.”
Mayor Cam Guthrie said he’s grateful for the Ireland family for stepping up and filling the financial gap in St. Joseph’s Health Centre.
“Thank you for making such a huge difference in health care in our community,” said Guthrie.
