NEWS RELEASE
GEORGIAN BAY GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
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Today the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation announces the addition of three new members to the Foundation Board of Directors and the retirement of two well-respected members.
The Foundation is pleased to welcome Natalie Parnell, Clinical and School Psychologist; Steve Renault, Financial Coach & Founding Partner of Middle Retirement; and Catherine (Katie) Houston, sessional lecturer and PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto, to serve on the Board of Directors. The new representatives were endorsed at the Foundation’s July 28 Annual General Meeting.
“We are excited and honoured to welcome Natalie, Steve and Katie to our Board,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “They each demonstrate a passion for GBGH and our community, and their skills and expertise will be incredibly beneficial to our organization.”
After serving a total of nine years, Kathy Elsdon Befort retires, becoming the Foundation’s eleventh Honourary Life Member. During her tenure, Kathy held several board roles including director, vice-president, president, and chair of the Board Governance Committee. In 2018, she stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director for the Foundation, and was instrumental in the recruitment for a new Executive Director.
“We are extending our most sincere thanks and appreciation to Kathy for her dedication to the Foundation,” says David Turner, chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “Kathy is a passionate advocate for GBGH, and we are thankful that she will continue to support the Foundation as a community member on the Governance Committee and as a member of the Hartog-Robillard Advisory Committee.”
The Foundation also said goodbye to Cathy Travers, who served on the Foundation Board as director and treasurer. During her tenure, Cathy also sat on both the Board Governance and Nominations committees, and in 2018, she took on the role of Cornerstone Partners Program champion.
“We are grateful for the dedication and tenacity that Cathy brought to the Board,” says Kraftscik. “She truly cares about the success of our organization, and she gave 100 per cent to everything she did for our hospital. We are glad she will continue to be an active member and advocate of the Cornerstone Partners program.”
The GBGH Foundation is always seeking caring individuals who are passionate about making a meaningful difference in our community to join our volunteer Board. The Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers who actively support GBGH through philanthropic activities. The role of the Board is to govern and oversee the affairs of the Foundation. Those interested in more information can contact the GBGH Foundation Office can email [email protected] or call 705-526-4483.
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