The first grant through the recently established Dr. William Monk Community Health Care Development Fund has been awarded to Hospice Muskoka.
A $30,000 donation will be made to Hospice through the fund.
Kathryn Monk, Dr. Monk’s daughter, said she was not aware Hospice’s nurse practitioners’ wages are paid through the not-for-profit’s operating budget and not covered by the province.
“The organization relies on donations and grants to cover them,” she explained. “Recognizing the need to not only retain the exceptional and dedicated nurse practitioners currently on staff who are working full tilt but to also attract an additional primary care professional to help with their current and expanded services, I hope that this donation will assist in some small way in achieving this important short-term goal.”
The fund was established in Oct. 2023 as a way to “attract, retain and develop primary health care professionals across Muskoka.”
Donna Kearney, Executive Director of Hospice, which operates the palliative care home Andy’s House in Port Carling, has spoken to multiple councils in recent months about the funding predicament the organization is in.
Earlier this month, Bracebridge council backed sending a letter to Premier Doug Ford asking him to provide permanent funding for the 10 beds offered at Andy’s House.
Lynn DeCaro, Executive Director of the Muskoka Community Foundation, said it’s an honour to support Hospice.
“Supporting community service organizations like Hospice Muskoka is crucial to ensure innovative and community-centric programs can continue to be offered across Muskoka’s vast geography,” she continued.
