November 23, 2007
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation > Media Room > November 23, 2007

SMH Foundation record: South Asian community raises more than $625-thousand in 16 hours
 

Surrey, B.C. – Donors have contributed more than $625,000 in less than a full day to Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Emergency Centre Campaign.
 

All of the money was raised with the help of Red 93.1 FM during an all-day radiothon on Friday. Red FM has pledged to raise $2 million through a series of fundraising events beginning with this radiothon.
 

“The generosity of the South Asian community in just one day is overwhelming,” says Foundation President/CEO Jane Adams. “This is the largest single day fundraising event in the Foundation’s 15 year history. Red FM provided the outlet for an amazing number of people to show their support for Surrey Memorial Hospital and the new Emergency Centre.”
 

Surrey Memorial Hospital’s current ER – the busiest in B.C. - was originally designed to handle about 44,000 visits a year but has instead been seeing close to 70,000 patients a year.
 

The new Emergency Centre, at triple the size of the current facility, will include a separate children’s ER, as well as a separate mental health and addictions area, an enhanced minor treatment unit, and an improved area for acute patients.
 

The B.C. government has committed to funding the essentials of a replacement to Surrey Memorial Hospital’s current E.R. The Foundation’s $15-million campaign will ensure the new Emergency Centre is state-of-the-art.
 

On November 15th, it was announced the main entry to the new Emergency Centre will be named the Guru Nanak Emergency Services Front Entrance, in recognition of the South Asian community’s contributions to the Foundation throughout the years.
 

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For more information, contact:
Jason Howe
Public Affairs Director
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation
604-585-5666 ext 8284
cell: 604-613-6873
jason.howe[at]fraserhealth.ca