In less than 18 months, the top fundraiser for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation (CKHAF) has a crush on Chatham-Kent.
Christine Mitchell, president and CEO of CKHAF, took the position last summer, but she’s hooked.
“I fell in love with Chatham-Kent. The people, the physicians, the staff…everyone is so engaging and welcoming,” she said. “Chatham-Kent has by far stolen my heart.”
Mitchell, who has worked in the health-care industry for nearly two-and-a-half decades, with 18 of those coming on the fundraising side, said she has never seen such grassroots support for a hospital before.
“People are very supportive of local health care; they want the best care possible close to home,” she said. “I’ve never seen such involvement at this level.”
Mitchell joined CKHAF from Erie Shores Health Foundation (ESHF), where she served as CEO for about five years.
She was recently named as recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award.
The award, bestowed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals– Canada South Chapter – recognizes Mitchell’s achievements, dedication to community impact and leadership within the philanthropic sector.
Since joining the CKHAF in 2023, Mitchell has overseen a series of successful campaigns leading the foundation to commit a total of $643,894 in approved funding to the hospital in the last fiscal year.
The Foundation is responsible for raising funds to help the CKHA purchase needed big-ticket equipment. Mitchell said she doesn’t look at it as a challenge.
“Health care is constantly evolving and constantly changing,” she said. “You don’t see challenges; you see opportunities, areas for growth.”
Fundraising is also ever-evolving. The CKHAF has for years run very successful events such as the Parade of Chefs and its annual golf tournament, as well as others, including draws and the Christmas Wish Trees in Chatham and Wallaceburg.
Underway right now is the Igniting Health Care Holiday 50/50 draw, which features a guaranteed pot of $50,000 for the winner. The foundation has had good success with running several such draws throughout the year. Mitchell said it’s also a fun way to give back.
“One lucky winner gets a life-changing amount of money,” she said.
On top of that the Foundation has fun delivering the good news.
“Last year, we showed up at the winner’s house. We were all in costume,” she said.
Her passion for health care began at a young age, she said, from inside health-care facilities.
“I was very sick as a child. I started off my life in the hospital. I never see hospitals as scary. I see them as safe places,” she explained. “Anything I can do to help the hospital staff take care of people, I’m all for it.”
