"The Oilers Foundation is proud to work on behalf of our generous fans and partners to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities in Northern Alberta. This year we donated $4.3 million to charities, community groups and minor hockey programs in Oil Country. This significant donation will continue to make a substantial, positive impact in Northern Alberta," said EOCF Board Chair Janet Riopel.
The EOCF was fortunate to support more than 106 charitable organizations and minor hockey groups this season including the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, WE, Hope Air, Covenant Foundation, Right To Play, Edmonton Down Syndrome Society and Special Olympics Edmonton.
The EOCF recently announced a $1 million donation over five years to the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation to purchase a Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Scanner. This will be Canada's highest resolution digital PET/CT system, which will be used within the Alberta Health Services system as a leading-edge diagnostic tool to detect, diagnose, stage and treat diverse forms of cancer and a wide range of diseases that affect people of all ages and backgrounds.
"It is with tremendous gratitude that the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation accepts this incredible gift from the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation," said Andrew Otway, President and CEO of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. "The Community Foundation's generous donation allowed us to complete our fundraising campaign meaning patients will soon have the right care, at the right time, right here at the Royal Alexandra Hospital."
The Foundation also made a $225,000 donation to the Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit, which celebrated its grand opening in June. The Centre provides affordable office and warehouse space to over 15 non-profit organizations. It is primarily designed for administration of charities and training of staff and volunteers for outreach into the community and will include state-of-the-art facilities such as a classroom, meeting rooms and event spaces. The donation will be used to purchase equipment and technology for the Centre.
"If it were not for organizations like the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation that are focused on our community, the Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit would never have become a reality," said Brain Farrell, Jerry Forbes Centre Foundation Board Chair. "Their donation has helped support and supply state of the art technology for all of the volunteer organizations that are calling the Centre home. We are very appreciative of the donation."
The Oilers Foundation looks forward to another successful season in 2019-20 and will continue in its mandate to reinvest funding to support the life-changing work being done in the community through diverse programs and partnerships in support of health and wellness, education and hockey programming for youth.
To learn more about the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and its community initiatives, please visit
OilersFoundation.ca
.
