LGH’s inaugural Giving Day raises $78,000

Launceston General Hospital’s first Giving Day was deemed a “huge success” by the hospital’s official charity, Clifford Craig Foundation, securing $78,000 from community donations to invest in special projects at the LGH - designed to directly improve the health outcomes of families across Northern Tasmania.

“The community came together like we haven’t seen in a long time in support of our local hospital. We saw the best in people offering spontaneous donations onsite at the hospital donation stations, sharing their personal stories of connection to the hospital and why the impact of a successful Giving Day was important to them,” said Clifford Craig Foundation’s CEO, Vanessa Cahoon.

Throughout the day on Thursday, 18 September, donations were effectively doubled thanks to generous campaign pledges made by matched donors, encouraging the community to reach to $60,000 fundraising target which was quickly surpassed and extended to matched donations to the tune of $74,000. With donations still trickling in, the tally reached $78,000 at time of publishing.

Launceston General Hospital staff embraced the fundraising day with support across the wards, wearing bright t-shirts and badges, sharing in the activities spanning across a fundraising breakfast with Giving Day ambassador and 7 Tasmania presenter Kiah Wicks, BBQ lunch and even a raffle prize draw at Sporties Hotel.

Kiah Wicks took her ambassador role to new heights by not only volunteering to MC at the fundraising breakfast, but by single-handedly coordinating a fundraising raffle and topping the leaderboard of the telethon calling on local business support.

LAFM ensured the broader community was invited to participate in Giving Day by hosting their Breakfast Show with Belinda King live from the Giving Day Breakfast at the LGH Cafeteria, and ChilliFM doubled-down on their support by hosting their live Afternoon Show with Jacquie, interviewing a number of clincians, LGH staff and volunteer supporters.