Historic KGH Day of Giving Raises Over $2.5 Million for Emergency Care
The Rain Poured Down and Donations Poured In as Unprecedented Community Support Helped Emergency Campaign Double Former Record!
KELOWNA, BC, May 14, 2025 – The 10th annual KGH Day of Giving has made history.
For the first time since its inception in 2016, the community pushed the KGH Day of Giving total over the $2 million threshold, raising an extraordinary $2,533,995.17 in support of Emergency Care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH)!
The one-day fundraising event is part of the KGH Foundation’s Give Where it Matters Most campaign, a $2.5 million commitment to fund the most immediate and urgent needs of KGH’s Emergency Department. These targeted improvements, focused on equipment and the front end of the department, are designed to optimize patient flow, enhance safety, support faster diagnostics and help reduce wait times.
The community’s commitment to improving emergency care was evident, driving funds raised past the original goal. Thanks to this incredible generosity, donations will help further the impact within the busiest department at KGH, and the second busiest emergency department in all of BC.
“This truly means the world to our team,” shares Dr. Geoff Sanz, Emergency Physician and Head of KGH’s Emergency Department. “Thanks to this community, our Emergency Department will be better equipped to respond, diagnose, and treat patients faster and more efficiently, after they come to us at their most vulnerable. On behalf of our entire team, thank you to every single person who supported this campaign!”
Support continued to build throughout the day. Generous matching gifts from several local families increased the matching total from $550,000 to $800,000.
Then, in a Foundation first, an anonymous donor stepped forward with an additional $700,000 match for all gifts made on the actual KGH Day of Giving, tripling every $1 donated and helping motivate the community to give in record-breaking fashion.
“This is a truly historic day for KGH and for our community,” shares Allison (Allie) Young, CEO of the KGH Foundation. “This level of support speaks to the outstanding care people receive in our Emergency department, and the deep gratitude they feel for our hardworking, compassionate Emergency care teams. We are so grateful to the community for standing up for the highest traffic area of our hospital.”
Late last week, Emergency physician, Dr. Neil Long, promised to shave his head should the campaign reach $1.5 million, $300,000 more than was raised for ‘Vinni’ last year. Dr. Long made good on his word and is now sporting a new haircut thanks to radio host Stephen Keppler.
“It means a great deal that so many people have collectively given this much to support our team, our work, and our patients,” shared the freshly buzzed Dr. Long. “These gifts will help support practical, urgently needed improvements that make a real difference for patients and the team caring for them, from more streamlined check ins to faster diagnostics and treatment planning. It was well worth my new haircut.”
The historic total was made possible by thousands of donations throughout the day. Local businesses, families, and individuals stepped forward in meaningful and creative ways.
Vista Radio stations broadcast live from the hospital, sharing stories and helping rally the community around the cause. Tim Hortons sold a limited-edition, hot pink ‘Day of Giving Donut’ with proceeds supporting the campaign. Save-On-Foods hosted a fundraising BBQ and spin-to-win prize wheel. The Sprott Shaw College “Change Bandits” hit the streets even in the downpour of rain, collecting donations from drivers passing by.
This was the tenth annual KGH Day of Giving, and over $9.27 million has now collectively been raised in support of initiatives such as Robotic Assisted Surgery (Vinni- which previously held the record with over $1.2 million raised)), JoeAnna’s House, Cancer Care at KGH, Foundry Kelowna, Stroke Care, a new 3T MRI, and now, Emergency Care. The impact of funds raised on KGH Day of Giving continues to fund hospital priorities not captured by provincial funding.
The KGH Foundation extends its heartfelt thanks to the many partners who made the day possible: Vista Media’s AM 1150, 99.9 SUNFM, and GO 101.5 as well as their on-air hosts and promotions teams; Sprott Shaw College; Save-On-Foods; Tim Hortons; and Black & McDonald.
“This outcome belongs to the community,” shares Young. “It belongs to every person who gave, shared, volunteered, bought a donut, wore a t-shirt, and helped spread the word. This speaks volumes about the level of humanity that surrounds us. Thank you to all who gave to enhance emergency care at KGH, for ourselves, our neighbours, and our community.”
To learn more, visit kghfoundation.com/day-of-giving.
Since 1978, the KGH Foundation has worked with a generous community to raise funds to support world-class healthcare close to home for a growing and diverse population in the interior of B.C. Today, the KGH Foundation is the lead fundraising organization for Kelowna General Hospital, JoeAnna’s House, and Central Okanagan Hospice House, while also fundraising for vital community health care programs
Media Contact:
Jessie Billey
Media and Communications Manager
KGH Foundation
T | 250-826-4973
E | Jessie.Billey@interiorhealth.ca
