United Steelworkers Local 6500 surpasses $1 million in lifetime giving to the Foundations at Health Sciences North

SUDBURY, ON – The Foundations at Health Sciences North (HSN) have one million reasons to be thankful as the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6500’s most recent donation on February 1st surpasses their lifetime giving total of $1 million dedicated to enhancing patient care at HSN.

Since their first gift in 1988 to their most recent gift this year, the USW Local 6500 has made a tremendous impact on patient care across Northeastern Ontario, transforming the delivery of care for many areas at HSN. The USW Local 6500 has supported the Foundations at HSN in many ways, including event sponsorships, monetary donations, supporting equipment-funding campaigns, and more.

“HSN’s services have touched the lives of each of our 2,600 members and their families, plus over 6500 retirees, in multiple ways,” said Nick Larochelle, President of USW Local 6500. “We feel strongly about giving back to causes meaningful to our members, and this has included pediatric care, oncology, research, and everything in between. We are grateful to be a part of the excellent care we know is happening in our community.”

One of USW Local 6500’s key contributions over the years was a $500,000 donation towards the construction of the Children’s Treatment Centre, which officially opened in 2010. Between 2003 and the spring of 2012, each member of the USW Local 6500 contributed one penny per hour to raise these funds. It took approximately 50 million hours of work by members to raise the money for this initiative. Further, their support extended to the funding of various equipment across HSN including two new ventilators for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and HSN’s PET scanner, one of only thirteen in Ontario, which allows Northeastern Ontario patients to stay closer to home for this type of advanced medical imaging.

“The USW Local 6500 have been exceptional philanthropic leaders in our community,” said Anthony Keating, President and CDO of the Foundations and Volunteer Groups at HSN. “Their generosity over the last 36 years has allowed us to make incredible progress to the high level of care provided at HSN, for past, present, and future patients. We are grateful for their long-time and integral support that continues to make an incredible impact on many in our region.”

The USW Local 6500’s most recent gift of $50,000 to the Northern Cancer Foundation will support research at Health Sciences North Research Institute to advance ground-breaking cancer research and innovation that will improve health outcomes for the people of Northeastern Ontario.