• On Saturday, November 25, more than 700 guests and community members attended the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation’s Fortune Ball.
  • The evening, which included a speech by Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt, helped raise $800,000 for Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH).
  • The Fortune Ball celebrated Chinese culture through performances and cuisine, including a dragon dance and tanggu drum show from Wushu Project. Guests also enjoyed a set from The Caverners Beatles Tribute band.
  • “We commemorate our community’s dedication to ongoing progress and exceptional patient care at Markham Stouffville Hospital,” said MSH Foundation’s Fortune Leadership Council Co-Chair Alan Kwong. “Gatherings like The Fortune Ball not only reinforce unity, but also ensures that we are continuing to nurture the health and well-being of our neighbours for the future.”
  • The Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation assists in the growth of MSH through fundraising and awareness efforts that support the hospital’s priority needs. Community donations are crucial for funding medical equipment and effective healthcare delivery at MSH.

During his remarks, Mayor Lovatt highlighted the enduring legacy of Arthur Latcham, a philanthropist from Stouffville who generously donated the land for the hospital. Lovatt also shared his experiences from the 2022 election, recalling instances when residents would ask when Stouffville would get its own hospital. He has since looked to emphasize that MSH is Stouffville’s hospital.

“That experience inspired the vision for this year’s Main Street 5K run, All Night Lawn bowling nights, and fundraising for Markham Stouffville Hospital at my golf tournament,” Lovatt told Bullet Point News. These efforts, along with the generosity of participating community members, successfully raised $425,000 for the MSH Foundation. The Mayor’s challenge to Fortune Ball attendees to double that amount proved to be a success.

MSH is currently pursuing comprehensive expansion plans, including new healthcare and research facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and additional health services. “The urgent and evolving needs in surgery, diagnostic imaging, and emergency medicine are constantly changing as our community is expanding and aging through the years,” a MSH Foundation press release states. They recently provided a presentation to Stouffville’s Council detailing these goals.

“Markham Stouffville Hospital relies on the compassion of the community to keep on the forefront of technological advancements and deliver life-saving care when it matters most,” explained Suzette Strong, CEO, MSH Foundation. “Government cannot fund all top priority needs, so we rely on the support of our community to help bring a lifetime of care close to home.”