A fundraising campaign for the Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead is now full, thanks to a $25,000 donation from the Saanich Peninsula Legion Branch No. 37, and a matching gift from Rudi Hoenson.
The “Every Moment Matters” campaign launched two weeks before Remembrance Day, and it raised $200,000 this year. The figure was confirmed just before Christmas once the Legion totaled up their donation.
Shannon Donnelly, event co-ordinator for Broadmead Care, said the Lodge did a mailing campaign to their donors, and they came through, “so we had a large percentage from our individual donors,” and about 10-15 gifts from community organizations.
“So we had to shut it! We’re full!” said Donnelly.
“Was ours the biggest donation?” asked Legion president Mary Truttman?
“Yes, it was!” replied Donnelly.
“Well, we always donate here because of the veterans that live here,” said Truttman, “and that’s our primary goal.”
The gift from Hoenson and the Legion goes towards equipment not funded by government, such as electric lifts, upgraded mattresses and blanket warmers.
It also supports programs like creative arts, entertainment and music therapy.
“All the extras that make people comfortable, we have to raise the funds for, otherwise it has to come out of our resident’s pockets and we’re not about to do that,” said Donnelly.
Over the years, Hoenson has donated over $1 million to the Veteran’s Memorial Lodge at Broadmead. The Lodge has 225 beds, 115 of which are priority access for veterans.
“It’s just a passion of his to support our veterans,” said Donnelly.
“He’ll offer these gifts and we’ll say to him how it’ll inspire other people, but then it inspires him [to give] again, so it’s this rollercoaster effect because he gets emotional to see these gifts that come in from the Legion,” said Donnelly.
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