donor

Riverside Health Care is defending its decision to shut off digital donor recognition boards at its facilities.

The boards were purchased by Riverside Foundation for Health Care in 2022 for $50,000 to replace static wall displays.

Riverside says it turned them off because they were displaying outdated information and were not being maintained or updated.

In a statement, the Foundation says it was still paying a fee to keep the board operating and has expressed disappointment with Riverside’s decision.

“The donor walls were created to recognize and honour the generosity of community members, families, and organizations who have contributed to health care in our region,” reads the Foundation statement.

“Each name displayed represents a story of commitment and support for better care close to home. Turning off these walls diminishes the visibility of that generosity and sends the wrong message to those who have invested in the health and well-being of our community.”

Riverside says it is exploring other, more cost-efficient ways to honour donors.

“Our Director of Fundraising has already been exploring new, dynamic, and cost-efficient platforms that will allow us to recognize past and future donors in a way that is current, accurate, and fair to everyone who chooses to support Riverside’s programs and facilities,” reads a statement from Riverside Health Care.

Earlier this year, Riverside Health Care decided not to renew a partnership with the Foundation, opting to hire its own fundraising director in preparation for a new MRI unit.

As of September, Riverside had raised only $200,000 toward a $1.6 million goal before receiving a $1 million pledge from a private family foundation.

Riverside still needs to raise another $400,000 by next summer to benefit from the full amount of the pledge.

The new MRI unit is expected to operational by January 2027.