Give Manitoba

18 Manitoba By Jim Bender G iving to charities can be good for your soul. "It feels good to give and I don't think you can underestimate that sort of dopamine hit that goes through your body when you make your gift," says Lisa Thomson Stifora, director of com- munications and stewardship for the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation. "It's a great feeling to know that you're doing something that's going to make someone else's life better and, yeah, there's no feeling like it." Thomson Stifora, who has previously worked for the University of Manitoba, Brandon University and Assiniboine Park Conservancy, has been supporting fund- raising for most of her career. "I see giving as the way that we can all contribute to our society in a way that's meaningful," she says. "So, whether you care for an organization like mine that supports health care or one that supports the arts or social services, it's a way for you to bring meaning into your life and do something that is good for somebody else. And it gives you an amaz- ing feeling to do something selfless." Donating to the foundation can result in life-saving and life-changing ways. "Our donors support one of the most im- portant causes that you can, which is your health. And when you support St. Boniface Hospital, you are making a real investment in not only your health and the health of your loved ones today but, of course, all of our future health because research is a big pillar of what we do," Thomson Stifora says. "We have scientists that are making new discoveries every day that are helping us to fight some of the biggest health challenges that we'll all face in the future." Donors are currently supporting the renovation of the hospital's emergency department, which will include a lot of compassionate care spaces thanks to the philanthropic investment of the founda- tion. "We will have things like a family pallia- tive room so that you can say goodbye to a loved one in a private space," she says. "Compassionate care settings will in- clude consultation rooms so that when you are making really important and difficult decisions about your family or yourself, you can do it with privacy and the time and space so that you can really talk to your doctor in a meaningful way." The foundation also supported Manito- ba's first endovascular hybrid operating room and other game-changing initiatives at the hospital, Thomson Stifora adds. The non-profit St. Boniface Hospital Foundation raises about $9 million per year. "Manitobans are known to be some of the most generous people in the country per capita. We really see that bear out here. It's phenomenal what they do for us. And we know that a lot of our donors not only support us in a really generous way, but they are also supporting other organi- zations," Thomson Stifora says. "So the folks who are supporting us are just a phenomenal group who do so much good. I think it goes to us being a humble community where you want to do some- thing good for your neighbours and the people who live here — and to make Mani- toba as great a place to live as you can." GOODNESS of giving The Lisa Thomson Stifora, director of communications and stewardship for St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, stands in front of the donor wall at St. Boniface Hospital. Photo by Darcy Finley I see giving as the way that we can all contribute to our society in a way that's meaningful." — Lisa Thomson Stifora, director of communications and stewardship, St. Boniface Hospital Foundation " ST BONIFACE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

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