Regina, Saskatchewan – Today the Hospitals of Regina Foundation (HRF) announced that just over $2.5 million, including a $1 million dollar matching donation from PotashCorp, was raised through their Million Dollar Match surgical campaign. The donations will purchase urgently needed surgical equipment for Regina’s operating rooms, allowing surgeons to work more efficiently and safely.

“PotashCorp’s matching gift gave us the momentum we needed to rally support from across southern Saskatchewan,” says Pat Fiacco, President & CEO of the Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “We had the privilege of speaking with many donors throughout the campaign and each of them told us how happy they were that every dollar they donated would be doubled – allowing our hospitals to buy twice as much equipment. We’re so grateful to PotashCorp for their leadership in this campaign.”

The Million Dollar Match campaign launched at the end of February with the announcement that PotashCorp would match all donations, up to $1 million dollars, until June 30th.  

“When we learned the Foundation needed to raise funds to buy new, more technologically advanced equipment, we wanted to contribute to their fundraising in a meaningful way. But today is really about celebrating the individuals and businesses across southern Saskatchewan who took this opportunity to support innovative healthcare,” says Mark Fracchia, PotashCorp’s President, PCS Potash.  

Three weeks before the June 30th deadline, the $1 million goal was reached and matched by PotashCorp. Not wanting to see any further donations go unmatched, a dedicated supporter of the Foundation offered an additional matching gift of $250,000. The Foundation then secured another $250,000 in donations for a final total of just over $2.5 million.

Campaign funds will be used to purchase more than 37 pieces of equipment including a new microscope for reconstructive plastic surgery, equipment for less invasive keyhole surgeries and a specialized ultrasound for kidney operations. Surgeons at the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region identified this equipment as an urgent priority to reduce wait times while providing efficient and safe care. Ensuring all patients receive surgery within three months is a goal of the provincial government’s Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative. Last year over 26,000 surgeries were performed in Regina on patients from across Saskatchewan.  

“Our surgeons will now be able to perform the right surgery, at the right time, which is exciting news for the people of southern Saskatchewan” says Dr. David McCutcheon, Vice President, Physician & Integrated Health Services, Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. “Maintaining an efficient inventory of state of the art equipment enables us to reduce surgical delays caused by equipment shortages and is essential to help train Saskatchewan’s future surgeons.  This new equipment gives them the best start possible in their new careers.”

“I want to thank the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region, the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, PotashCorp and the many people who contributed to this campaign for helping improve surgical care in our hospitals,” says Warren Steinley, MLA Regina Walsh Acres, on behalf of Health Minister Dustin Duncan. “By putting patients first, you are helping to secure a better quality of life for the people of Saskatchewan.”

The Hospitals of Regina Foundation is a non‐profit organization, guided by a volunteer Board of Directors. They are the only organization raising funds for southern Saskatchewan’s specialized care hospitals – the Regina General Hospital, the Pasqua Hospital and the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre. Since 1987, the Foundation has raised over $140 million to enhance healthcare.  

As the world’s largest crop nutrient company, PotashCorp plays an integral role in global food production. The company produces the three essential nutrients required to help farmers grow healthier, more abundant crops. With global populations rising and diets improving in developing countries, crop nutrients such as potash, phosphates and nitrogen offer a responsible and practical solution to help produce the food we need, from the land we have.