The Heart of Giving #4: Give Till It Feels Good
Every community has defining moments; times when ordinary people choose to do something extraordinary together. Stevenson Memorial Hospital is living one of those moments right now. And the truth is simple: we have a gem of an institution in our own backyard, one that exists because a visionary leader, Theodore Pringle Loblaw, understood the importance of health care close to home. He gave till he felt great about it. His $100,000 gift in the 1920s (worth millions today) wasn’t just philanthropy. It was foresight. It was leadership. It was love for community.
Had Mr. Loblaw not stepped forward, our families would be travelling to Southlake, Headwaters, Collingwood, or Barrie for the everyday care we all rely on, including emergency visits, dialysis, less‑specialized surgeries, and birthing. Those hospitals are excellent, but the ability to receive essential first-stop care close to home is priceless. And it is something only we can protect.
Today, we are being asked to do what generations before us did: ensure that Stevenson remains strong, modern, and locally governed. And just as those before us came together to build and support our hospital, we have an opportunity to do the same for generations to come. Not everyone can give the same amount, but every contribution has the power to make a difference. When thousands of neighbours come together, each doing what they can, those individual acts of generosity become something extraordinary. That is the power of collective action. That is the power of a community united by a shared commitment to local healthcare.
So today, we are asking not for a sacrifice that hurts, but for a contribution that feels good. Give what you can. And if you can give more to help those who cannot, please do. This is our hospital. Our responsibility. Our moment.
Give till you feel great about it.
Written By:
Dr. Ted Vandevis, CEO
Fayaaz Kala, Board Chair
Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation