The Sault Area Hospital Foundation’s ongoing mission to raise funds for the purchase of vital medical equipment for Sault Area Hospital continues to be a success story.
As with other hospitals, money to buy sophisticated diagnostic imaging devices such as CT scanners, MRI scanners, ultrasound technology, X-ray equipment and a vast array of other important medical gear for Sault Area Hospital (SAH) does not come from the Ministry of Health.
In SAH’s case, it comes from donations and fundraising efforts organized by the Sault Area Hospital Foundation (SAHF) while the ministry pays for the building’s maintenance and staff.
“Our success is because we have a very generous community that makes donations and participates in our fundraisers,” said Teresa Martone, SAHF executive director.
Almost 60 per cent of funds raised by SAHF are through charitable donations. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, gifts were received from over 3,500 households and almost 200 organizations such as businesses, unions and service clubs.
Together they donated millions of dollars in support of the care that is provided at SAH.
“They see the need for healthcare to be the best that it can be in Sault Ste. Marie," Martone told SooToday. "We're all going to need that health care equipment at some point and they understand that."
Another big factor in the foundation’s success is its group of nine full-time staff members.
“I'm proud of the rock star team that we have here," Martone said. "They are significantly important to the success that we have. Each one of them is very important in the work that they do."
SAHF is not funded by the Ministry of Health, separate from SAH, self-sustaining and with its own board.
Several years ago, SAH estimated that the cost to replace all capital medical equipment every 10 years would require approximately $50 million from SAHF.
The foundation’s team members rolled up their sleeves and set an ambitious goal of providing $5 million to the hospital each year to continue to replace equipment and expand services. In each of the last four fiscal years, SAHF was able to provide $5 million to the hospital for its equipment needs.
SAHF successes in the past few years include:
- Funding a new MRI that was replaced in August 2022 at a cost of $3.2 million – the most costly piece of equipment at SAH to date
- The replacement of all three X-Ray rooms at SAH at an approximate cost of $500,000 per room in 2024
- The building of two cardiac catheterization labs, enabling Sault and area patients to have life-saving and life-changing angioplasty procedures done at SAH instead of travelling to hospitals in other communities
Some of the biggest needs currently on SAHF’s fundraising list include:
- A new CT scanner in the next three years
- Replacement of hospital beds at a rate of approximately 15 beds each year
- Ongoing support for the Algoma District Cancer Program (ADCP)
- Three isolettes, at a cost of approximately $55,000 each, needed to care for infants who are born too small or too sick and cared for at SAH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Maintenance and repair of dialysis machines at SAH’s Algoma Regional Renal Program
Of the $50 million needed for medical equipment every 10 years at SAH, approximately $14 million is for diagnostic imaging needs. Among the most expensive equipment used in health care, over $11 million has been invested in medical imaging in the last five years, and this year, SAHF aims to provide another $1 million to this area.
Apart from donations from individuals and groups, SAHF raises funds from lottery programs including the annual Sault Area Hospital Foundation 5-Car Draw, the SAHF 50/50 Draw and events such as the upcoming SAHF Gala in November.
“This hospital is incredible. It's outstanding care. We're proud to do the work to support it but we couldn’t do it without the community’s help,” Martone said.
For more on the Sault Area Hospital Foundation, including how to make a donation and contact information, visit the SAHF website.
