Royal Columbian Hospital steals a piece of my heart after a ten-year relationship with its foundation. Few people realise that Royal Columbian Hospital has a growing national reputation as a major cardiac centre.

Last year I found myself standing in one of the operating rooms at Royal Columbian Hospital, observing open-heart surgery. It is staggering to be in that space. A proficient team of medical staff are at work while a beating heart lies open to the world.

I was honoured to be part of a small group invited on a hospital tour as a Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation guest in acknowledgement of ten years of in-kind donations from FASTSIGNS® of Coquitlam, BC. I watch with reverence one of a thousand yearly open-heart surgeries at Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. Few people realise that Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation is a major cardiac centre for Fraser Health.

My initial outreach to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation was to create a new business connection. However, I was immediately set upon to deliver in-kind services. Since then, I have maintained a relationship with Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation and got to know the foundation and hospital staff. It is a relationship that has brought me great personal satisfaction.

There are many reasons to get involved in philanthropic work as a business. Reasons listed range from employee engagement to building brands and reputations. My perspective on philanthropy is altruistic, and it is important to me to help in the community wherever I can. If I can reduce the costs for a not-for-profit, more money goes to the beneficiary. FASTSIGNS® of Coquitlam, BC gives because we can.

FASTSIGNS® of Coquitlam, BC has been a consistent in-kind donor to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation’s annual Making the Cut Golf Classic for five years. The event is led by passionate physicians such as Regional Medical Director & Regional Department Head, Fraser Health Anesthesiology, Dr Feisal Mohamedali. It is very satisfying to see them achieve their ambitious goals. The event raised $20,000 five years ago, and at the end of 2020, it had raised $500,000.00 for the foundation.

FASTSIGNS® of Coquitlam, BC has played an active role in building this event by saving Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation thousands of dollars in signage costs and providing canopies. The money raised contributes to equipment and services, which supports a world-class health care system.

In the past ten-years, FASTSIGNS® of Coquitlam, BC had donated between $5,000 to $10,000 in-kind donations annually in the form of posters, billboards, and event signage and canopies.

Because of my work with the foundation, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation has stolen a piece of my heart. It is the only hospital in BC with trauma, cardiac, neurosciences, high-risk maternity and neonatal intensive care on one site. The surgeons and nurses that I talk to have elected to work at Royal Columbian Hospital, one of BC’s two major adult trauma centres because they are working at a hospital where they believe they can make a difference. I know they do.

This month, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation honours ten years of giving by FASTSIGNS® of Coquitlam, BC by featuring us on their donor billboard. It has been our pleasure.

Further reading on why philanthropy is good for business

The Business Case for Corporate Philanthropy in 2020 The Philanthropic Initiative
Why Philanthropy Is Good for Business? Wall Street Survivor