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mmmmmmisilitml to the people who give the gift of life from the gift store 4776100 hats off to fundraisers adams landscaping landscaping property maintenance residential commercial m member of landscape ontario pools driveways interlocking brick lawncare 4715212 umoac authorized contractor if charities could mobilize a community and raise money as quickly and efficiently as the markham stouffville hospital has they probably wouldnt have to fundraise for years six years ago the challenge facing the organizing group seemed enormous but it was simple if they raised 5 million the community got a hospital if they didnt another community might get one first somehow they had to squeeze 5 million from a limited resource base two smalltown communities of about 25000 total all levels of government seemed ready to give the community a 75 million hospital the provincial government and the region of york would pay a percentage it was now up to area businesses and residents to dig deep and do its share little time was wasted volunteers rallied and divided the community into target groups corporations small businesses service clubs and organizations and residential every door was knocked on and for a time proceeds from almost every community event were going to the hospital garage sales pig roasts ball tournaments raffles and even kids koolaid stands carried the familiar msh symbol it was unbelievable says glenn crosby who has sat on the msh board for seven years this isnt just a bedroom community for toronto there is a deep sense of community here people want to help out in part crosbys deep sense of community stems from the areas longstanding farming community although exact figures arent known they were generous to the project they were all willing to help some even became lifetime members donating more than 100 says barry little a farmer and one of the people in charge of collecting from the agricultural sector the farmers tend always to help the community says little many of the older families supported the scarborough hospitals when they were built years ago and pleasantly aided the msh good supporters of community facilities have always been the service clubs and when the msh was proposed they were there to lend a helping hand some of the major contributors over the years have been the rotary clubs the lions the kiwanians and the kinsmen since 1983 the markham lions club donated almost 70000 to the hospital one of the largest donations from any service club president mike moyer says they wouldnt have been able to do it without the generous residents weve always been blessed with strong community support here its excellent he says in an incredible 18 months the volunteers had the entire sum committed on paper at least it was the most successful campaign in the province says crosby i think we were the only hospital with the money already in the bank before the construction started over the years that pledged money which in some cases was to be collected in installments was all gathered and banked in short no other community beat markham and stouffville in the effort to win the regions third fullservice hospital residents proved they would not only open their hearts and community but their wallets too like this fine hospital we are here to serve you and the surrounding communities to the best of our abilities whether it be sales or leasing parts or service we know that our customers are very important people to us we have the attitude knowledge and experience to treat you right your regional pontiac buick cmc dealer 477 main st w stouffville 6403450