Kinsmen Foundation makes $1M pledge toward health-care equipment

Article content

With this year’s Telemiracle on the horizon, the Kinsmen Foundation is finding ways to invest the record-breaking funds raised during last year’s event.

Article content

On Thursday, the charity announced it’s pledging $1 million toward new health-care equipment to be used in the province. The pledge is possible because of the $8 million raised at last year’s Telemiracle, which also saw the largest single donation in the telethon’s history, a bequest of close to $1.8 million.

Article content

“Saskatchewan people are known for their generosity and last year, they came together to set an all-time TeleMiracle record,” Kinsmen Foundation Chair Rob Bateman said.

“The impact of these donations means that the Kinsmen Foundation can make a special investment in new health-care equipment across the province.”

The money will be available for eligible health-care foundations and facilities, according to a release.

Article content

Article content

Interested parties have until June 7 to submit an application, and recipients will be notified and announced publicly at the end of June.

This kind of funding was helped the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation purchase a da Vinci surgical robot, the first of its kind in the province, in partnership with local philanthropist Merlis Belsher and the provincial government.

“The partnership between philanthropy and health care means that we can do more to support innovation and the advancement of health system priorities,” said Saskatchewan Health Authority board chair Arlene Wiks.

The 47th annual telethon takes place this weekend in Saskatoon, airing on CTV and streaming on the organization’s website. The telethon will feature a tribute to actor, singer and longtime Telemiracle host Bob McGrath, and features familiar hosts Brad Johner, Jeffery and Jill Straker and Beverley Mahood, joined by Jess Moskaluke, Jake Vaadeland, Alex Brown, Lisa Franks and Michael Linklater.

Article content

The telethon runs at Prairieland Park Saturday at 9 p.m. through Sunday at 5 p.m. The Countdown to Telemiracle airs exclusively on the website before the main show on Saturday, from 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The news seems to be flying at us faster all the time. From COVID-19 updates to politics and crime and everything in between, it can be hard to keep up. With that in mind, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox to help make sure you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.