Hospital Auxiliaries in Kamloops are making a five year, $2.5 million commitment to the Royal Inland Foundation.

It’s the first time ever a commitment of this nature has been made to fund and equip the hospital ahead of the upcoming expansions with the Patient Care Tower.

“It takes a lot of work to make these kinds of goals happen”,” said Lynn Littlejohns, the President of the Afternoon Auxiliary. “We pledge for the equipment according to the needs of the hospital and then fundraise to the pledge. Our goal is to always meet these commitments for the care that people deserve.”

The Afternoon Auxiliary will contribute $1.65 million, raised through the Victoria Street Thrift Seller, the RIH gift store and mobile carts and their vendor program.

The Evening Auxiliary will add the other $850,000, which will be raised through ‘innovative contract work’ like leasing the on-site coffee shop, vending machines and in-room TVs at RIH as well as their annual Craft-a-Fair, which organizers say is the largest craft fair in the province.

“We’re proud of our dedication and commitment to fundraising for the hospital because we’re very proud of our hospital,” says President of the Evening Auxiliary President Jenny Quince. “We’re very fortunate to have the care we do…. there are so many positive things that happen in RIH every day.”

Both groups say they are eager to continue work together to meet their commitment to ensure that RIH’s reputation for exceptional standards of equipment, care and patient comfort carries on into the future.