Donors at the Giving Hearts Gala celebrated the excellence of Langley Memorial Hospital’s surgical team on Feb. 3 when they raised an incredible $260,000 for new equipment, such as surgical scopes and ceiling lifts, that will protect patients and medical staff alike.
Nearly 250 guests gathered at the Langley City Coast Hotel and Convention Centre to give through a charity raffle, silent and live auctions at the fifth annual gala that witnessed a night of philanthropy by the South Asian community.
In the years 2021/2022, more than 14,000 patients underwent either inpatient or day surgery at Langley Memorial Hospital (LMH). Ceiling lifts help caregivers move patients in comfort. Without these lifts, surgical teams have struggled to move larger and anesthetized patients manually.
Every time they do so, they put themselves at risk. Moving patients without a lift can result in sprains and slipped discs, joint injuries, back injuries and chronic pain.
“Year after year, Giving Hearts Gala donors show their community leadership through their generosity; they’re driven by their shared goal of ensuring our community has the health care it deserves,” says Heather Scott, Executive Director of Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation.
The evening started with huge gestures of generosity thanks to an anonymous donor who gave $75,000, challenging guests to match the sum in donations. The evening's lively auction inspired the Bath Family Foundation and Fraserview Cedar Products to give extraordinary gifts of $10,000.
Dr. Harj Dhaliwal of Kanin Construction Management acted as the lively Master of Ceremonies, while the Punjabi Diamond Arts Club Men’s Giddha Dancers injected energy into the proceedings and master sitarist Anju Bedi played traditional pieces for a melodic backdrop to the social gathering.
Manjit Gill, co-founder of the gala and co-chair of the Giving Hearts Gala committee, attributes much of the event’s success to donors’ growing compassion for community health.
“This year’s gala was everything the committee worked toward and more,” she says. “Donors appreciate and understand just how excellent the surgical staff is, and their generosity speaks volumes about the respect we have for them and all patients at Langley Memorial.”
Last year, Giving Hearts Gala guests raised $240,000 to support a refresh of the Spiritual Space at LMH, providing a haven of rest and calm for patients, staff and visitors.
Since its inception, the Giving Hearts Gala donor community has raised a total of $1,165,000. In addition to the Spiritual Space revitalization, these funds have helped to expand LMH’s Martini Family Emergency Department, purchase mobility aids for vulnerable patients and supply bassinets for the specialized care of newborns.