“On behalf of our donors, equipment purchases have now been completed for the ICU and Emergency departments at Royal Columbian Hospital [RCH] from our 2019 fund-raising season. With the additional bonus of revitalizing the Breast Imaging Reception area – we have exceeded our 2019 expectations.”  | James Crosty, President of the Group of Five [G5] Benevolent Society.

REVITALIZING THE BREAST IMAGING RECEPTION ROOM AT RCH:  Photo from L to R:  Shelley Pietraroia; Supervisor, Breast Imaging and Bone Densitometry, Cindy Tang; Rotary President, Brett Atkinson; Rotary, James Crosty; G5 President, John Berry; Rotary Past President, Gerda Suess; G5 founder & Treasurer, Karla Penate; owner Sky Element Painting and Catherine Cornish; RCH Foundation.  PHOTO: STCcreatives.com

(New Westminster) The Group of Five Benevolent Society & Friends (G5), a New West based charity founded in 2004, is dedicated to providing funds to purchase necessary equipment and incidentals for the Royal Columbian Hospital.  Thanks to the generous support of our charitable donors, both personal and business, the G5 realized a tremendous 2019 fund-raising season.

During the 2019 season, the G5 produced the smash event ‘Tis The Season’ [November 2019], as well as the ‘Spring Is Right Around The Corner’ [May 2019].  Both events secured unprecedented donations, and served to exemplify the generosity of our New Westminster community and new supporters from Surrey, White Rock, Burnaby and beyond.

Recommended by the RCH Foundation Team, committed to in 2019 by the G5 and completed in 2020, the G5 purchased a Cerebral Oximeter for the ICU department, as well as a Code Blue Team Lifepak Monitor.  Both pieces are critical to ICU and Emergency front-line workers. As with all G5 acquisitions, the G5 purchased the equipment ‘on invoice’ directly from the supplier, assuring that one hundred percent of the money raised goes toward equipment.

“Thanks to the generosity of the local New Westminster Rotary Club #153, we were able to expand our impact at RCH to include some much-needed renovations”, announced Crosty.  The NW Rotary Club #153 donated funds, augmented by the G5, toward the complete refurbishment of the RCH Breast Imaging Reception Room.  The revitalized reception area received new chairs, tables, artwork, a new 32 inch television and a fresh coat of paint sponsored in part by Sky Element Interior & Exterior Painting Co.

Due to COVID-19 our scheduled Spring 2020 event was cancelled.  However, our effort to purchase equipment for RCH is needed now, more than ever.  We encourage G5 donors to contact groupoffive@gmail.com or call 604.521.6677 to make a donation.

Founder and Treasurer of the Group of Five Benevolent Society Gerda Suess wishes, “We will all be together at our scheduled Fall 2020 event – See You There!  Meanwhile, please donate today to the Group of Five – thank you.”

W: GroupofFive.ca  |  Instagram:  groupoffivenw  |  Twitter:  @Group_of_Five