Excerpts from the Canadian
Hospital News
a publication servicing the Toronto / Region Health Centers
Joseph's of donor Wall celebrates the angelic spirit of community contributions
January 1992 - by Katherine O'Brien
" We are each of us Angels with only one wing. And can only fly embracing each other." "These words by Luciano De Crescenzo, reflected up part of with the philosophy that guides all fundraising efforts at St. Joseph's Health Center..."
"The continual support of the community both internal and external is deeply appreciated by the Center and this gratitude is expressed through the Donor Recognition Program..."
" The sculptor Katherine Zsolt depicted the Angels with arms uplifted donated the willingness of Angels to be supportive and bear weight on behalf of humanity..."
Artists enjoy designing walls for hospitals
July 1989
"...Artist Katherine Zsolt just completed her third donor recognition project..."
" Her Foundation Angels at St. Joseph's Health Center are analogous to the donors who support the hospital. Angels with raised arms support a bulkhead in a 40 foot long ceramic mural..."
"She also crafted the donor recognition works at North York General and York County Hospital's. St. Joseph's Wall has water in disguise a backdrop to the Angels, depicting the soft light that embraces nearby Lake Ontario in the early morning. Donor's names are all the wall opposite the mural. Ms. Zsolt said donor walls need to be more than functional. In a hospital the objective is 'to relax people and open up the space' she also attempts to give her arts a feeling of timelessness."
"Her mural of a wooded ravine at North York General hospital was somewhat of a personal undertaking for the North York General native. As a child she played in the ravines represented in the mural."
"Her Circle of Hope at York County hospital in Newmarket comprises 25 suspended ceramic does that appear to fly from the window."
Donor walls a big boost for hospital campaigns
July 98
By Bethany Keddy
"Hospitals are investing in Art in a big way. Donor recognition has become an Art in itself, almost as important for its own sake as for the sake of recognition."
" …Not one of them should look anything like anyone else's" said Ann Mortimer, and art consultant involved in donor recognition projects at three hospitals. Ms. Mortimer said such project should complement the hospital setting and history."
" Aside from being inspirational pieces of art, the projects are an incentive for donations. North York General's 30 ft. high ceramic wall of a forest ravine is a prime example. It has enhanced the environment. It has inspired donations," said Carol Oliver, vice president of development.
"…North York General's Wall has raised more than $1 million since it was unveiled just over a year ago. Complementing the wall-which depicts the wooded ravines of North York-is a wall of ceramic tiles with donor's names engraved on them."
" The donors just love to the really do," said development officer Cathie Shilletto. " People feel that if they're giving, it encourages people to give’".
Gifts may complement recognition on Wall
July 98
"What's in the name on a donor Wall? Not quite enough for some hospitals. That's way they give keeper gifts to donors."…
"… Art consultant and Mortimer said a gift becomes a visual symbol for others that this person has chosen to support the hospital she said its important to integrate the gift lines with the donor recognition art theme North York General gives handcrafted ceramic medallions commemorative tiles and photos of its wall to those who contribute in the higher categories."
Recognition program takes flight
September 1988
A donor recognition program was launched in May by York County's Hospital Foundation. The 'Circle of Hope' is made up of a circle of ceramic doves, (fired in the traditional Japanese raku), a Donor Recognition Wall in the Book of Honor.
Names of the major donors appear on raku tiles on the donor Wall and a plaque explaining the purpose of the jobs guards the entrance to the hospital's east lobby.
Toronto sculptor Katherine Zsolt was commissioned by the foundation to create a major work of art that would serve as a focal point for the program.
The program consists of six different categories beginning with Supporter level($100-$999 donation), climbing to the Founder level (more than $100,000 donation.) Individual or corporate gifts may be accumulated so the donor can move through the categories, receiving appropriate recognition at each level. All names appear in the Honor book, and donations of $5,000 or more are recognized on the wall.
* York County Hospital is now known as the Southlake Regional Health Centre.
http://www.ych.on.ca/foundation.donorrecognition.html
photo by Yinki Choi
Tom McPherson, president of the York County hospital foundation shows off "the Circle of Hope" the hospital's donor recognition program.