Investment on the front lines

Nurses hold a unique and a vital role in our health care system. No matter what illness or health situation you’re faced with, nurses are with you every step of your care journey, whether it’s in the hospital, a long-term care home or in the community.

Imagine, for example, you needed a complex surgery…

• a nurse is there to prep you for the surgery and answer your questions.
• a nurse is in the operating room assisting with the procedure.
• a nurse in at your bedside after the operation to ensure a speedy recovery.
• a nurse will visit you in your home to ensure your incision from the procedure is cared for and healing.

Nursing is a compassionate profession, but it also requires a high-level of education, in-depth knowledge, and the ability to exercise advanced judgment and assessment.

The TD Bank Group understands this – that’s why they’ve supported the advancement of skills and education for hundreds of nurses at Eastern Health since 2002. In 2014, TD reaffirmed its support for nurses by committing $100,000 to the Health Care Foundation – to be used over the next four years for Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) certification or re-certification.

TD Bank presents a cheque to the Health Care Foundation in support of nursing excellence. (l-r) Julie Macdonald, senior development manager, major giving and special projects, Health Care Foundation; and Cheryl Walsh, branch manager, TD Bank Group.

“Eastern Health greatly appreciates the significant contributions TD has made towards nursing education,” said Katherine Chubbs, Vice-President and Chief Nursing Officer with Eastern Health. “This support has provided invaluable professional development opportunities for nurses throughout the organization – which, in turn, will benefit our patients, residents and clients.”

Group shot of the award winners and CNA grant recipients at the 2015 Annual Nursing Gala and Awards Ceremony

This year, TD also supported Eastern Health’s Annual Nursing Gala and Awards Ceremony and the Nursing Research Symposium. Because of this support, Eastern Health was able to bring in an innovative and motivational key note speaker for the Research Symposium, Donna Cardillo, who exemplified how nurses are truly experts in their various medical fields.

Tina Skinner, with Professional Practice at Eastern Health; Wendy Snow, relationship manager at TD Commercial Banking; Julie Macdonald, senior development manager, major giving and special projects, Health Care Foundation ;Keisha Campbell, branch manager, TD; Jackie O’Brien, senior manager, communications and stewardship, Health Care Foundation; at Nursing Gala and Awards Ceremony.

Investing in children
The TD Bank Group’s support also extends to our youngest patients and clients. When children are stricken with an illness or injury, it is critical to them and their families that they have access to the best possible medical care. Organizations such as TD help the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation to ensure this care is available to all our children.

Ailish Slaney

Since 2004, TD Bank Group together with their employees and customers, have generously raised and donated approximately $500,000 to the children of Newfoundland and Labrador.

These gifts year-over-year have allowed us at Eastern Health to care for children – your children – from across the province, so they can get better and return home where they belong.

“Each child cared for at the Janeway inspires us with their courage and determination to be well,” said Arlene Scott, Regional Director of Children’s and Women’s Health. “It is also incredibly inspiring to see organizations like TD come together to support our health care teams in providing the best possible care to all our children throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. “

This financial support is helping kids like eight-year-old Ailish Slaney, from St. Lawrence, who was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a highly malignant brain tumor in the spring of 2014.

Check out Ailish’s story.

Partnering in hope

So why is TD so committed to improving health care?

“We are proud to support health care providers, staff and volunteers within Eastern Health who give hope to thousands of patients and their loved ones who are in need of care,” said Shane Kennedy, District Vice President, North Atlantic, TD. “We’re also proud to support training and education for nurses at Eastern Health through TD Grants in Medical Excellence. Special thanks to TD employees who, together with our customers, are the drivers behind our successful annual fundraising campaigns.”

On behalf of Eastern Health, the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Health Care Foundation and patients and families from across Newfoundland and Labrador, we thank TD for their kindness and caring – past, present, and future.

Your support makes a difference! ■

This story was written by Jackie O’Brien, senior manager of communications and stewardship at the Health Care Foundation and Jenine Kerrivan, manager of corporate development and the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation.