Ralph Warner and his company, Warner Rentals, have announced a $500,000 commitment to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation for the RIH Patient Care Tower.

The Foundation says it is the companies largest gift to the hospital to date.

“Warner Rentals isn’t the biggest company in the city, but we try to support anything that benefits health,” said Warner, in a release. “My children were born (at RIH), my mom fought cancer there…it’s the heartbeat of our city and we have to make it better. We have a massive opportunity with this new tower and we have to do our best for the care of future generations.”

Warner says it’s important for local businesses to give back.

“We’re grateful for Kamloops and we appreciate and value being part of this community. We work hard and make intentional decisions in order to benefit this community, and that’s what this $500,000 donation to RIH Foundation is all about.”

And while Ralph Warner is thinking about a transition into retirement, he says two long-time employees have become managing partners with partial ownership, and he anticipates the company’s generosity to remain the same.

“It’s our hospital and we all use it; I’ve spent my time there and so have my employees. The hospital has always been so good to us,” Warner added. “People know that when they are in need they can go there and will be safe and taken care of.”

A release from the RIH Foundation says Warner predicts that there will be more funding coming through the business as the new patient care tower expansion comes to fruition. It’s expected to open in 2022.