Home early from fall cleanups in my gardens due to the cold, rainy weather today, I came across this unique idea for fundraising within the hospital I worked at for thirty years. Women in Philanthropy is a group of, you guessed it, women, who donate money then collaborate on how to spend it for the benefit of the hospital.
I spent a good chunk of my adult years at Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) in Nepean (a suburb of Ottawa) so have always felt a connection to it. Hired there at 22 years of age, I retired at 52. At the time the laboratory I worked in (several departments over the years) was switching over to a regional format (Eastern Ontario Regional Lab Association or EORLA), offering severance packages to those employees wishing to opt out of the switch. I left one day, started my gardening business (officially) the very next day, and never looked back. Although I did spend many hours gardening there before the expansion made it impossible for one person to keep up with the landscape demands.
It was this connection to QCH that first drew my attention to the Women in Philanthropy article. As a female business owner, I was intrigued and so read more about the idea. Making a difference in healthcare has an enormous appeal to me, especially at the community level. I recognized the chairperson of Women in Philanthropy as someone I used to work with; in those days the hospital was small enough that most employees knew each other. I messaged her to see if she remembered me and to express my interest. She answered within ten minutes that of course she remembered me and would love to have me on board.
I am excited about this new adventure, a combination of my gardening business and my healthcare background. Especially as the gardening season is closing down with the threat of rain turning to snow only too soon.
If Women in Philanthropy appeals to you too, sign up and join us!
