The Building Dignity Campaign is pushing ever closer to its goal of $6 million to provide North Bay with the much-needed haven where terminally ill patients can find comfort and compassion in the final days of their life journey.
Representatives from CIBC, as well as members from the hospice, were all smiles when a $15,000 donation was given in support of the hospice Wednesday afternoon. With CIBC’s donation, the building Dignity Campaign has raised well over 50 per cent of their $6 million goal.
"To have one of our major banks in the country give us such a considerable contribution right up front is so important," said Mathilde Bazinet, Chair of the Nipissing Serenity Hospice. "It's so important that those who want to contribute do so now, to get the Hospice built."
She said the challenge would be all downhill from here as funding gets closer and closer to their goals and once the Hospice would be built. Once completed, she said, they would be able to receive government funding.
The Hospice, which is expected to be open as soon as 2017, was green-lit in November 2015 and rolled out their fundraising campaign this March.
The city has already given the property located near Laurier Woods off John Street, which would have been $240,000, for the minimal sellable price of $1 and all that remains is to construct the facility.
"You really need a peaceful place to spend the rest of your journey," she said.
Bazinet said they have a very dedicated fundraising committee and have been making lots of presentations to people and organizations as part of their campaign and every little bit has helped.
"CIBC has a long list of engaging in the community and partnering with organizations so we can give back to the community," Timothy Ott, Banking Centre Leader at CIBC said. "We live here, we work here and we have our grandchildren here, so it just makes perfect sense to give back as much as we can. Not only just for our generation but for generations to come."
