A new group, Women Leading Philanthropy, aims to improve health care for women in Central Alberta, and it’s off to a great start.
Launched by the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, the group will fund initiatives that directly impact patient care and help shape the future of women’s healthcare delivery.
Manon Therriault, foundation CEO and philanthropy member, said she was elated with the response to the group’s premiere event, Purposeful Change: Women’s Philanthropy Symposium, held on Wednesday featuring six women sharing their expertise in a variety of fields.
“We had about 75 people in the room which was a really great turnout,” said Therriault, adding initial planning for the group only began in January.
“I didn’t expect to see that much commitment and excitement. There’s definitely some engagement going on. (Women’s health) is a health care topic that isn’t as discussed as it should be which is why we’re aiming to shed some light on it.”
She said women who attended remarked that they felt empowered to take action in some way moving forward.
The type of events organized for the group will be driven by the women who are participating in the giving circle and how they want to engage with the hospital, she said.
Events will likely be held on a quarterly basis, including networking opportunities. For more information on the annual donation required to be part of the group, contact the foundation.
Participants will decide annually where their donations will go.
In advance of the Wednesday’s event, the EMBRACE program, for women dependent on opioids or other substances during pregnancy, was chosen as the group’s first recipient.
Available at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, EMBRACE provides support to expectant mothers to safely navigate their pregnancy, birth/delivery and recovery to help keep mothers and babies together.
Therriault said if there were men who wanted to develop a similar philanthropy group, the foundation would be happy to help.
