Friday 20th October 2023
On Thursday 12th October, St John of God Foundation had the pleasure of hosting ‘Celebrating Philanthropy’, an evening that brought together donors, clinicians, caregivers and hospital leaders.
At the event, we had the opportunity to celebrate our wonderful supporters and the innovative research, equipment, compassionate care, and first-rate clinical education their contributions make possible.
The formalities commenced with a warm welcome and heartfelt expression of gratitude from St John of God Foundation CEO, Bianca Pietralla, who introduced a video of Martina Ivey, a breast cancer survivor and St John of God hospital patient.
Martina shared her inspiring personal journey of battling cancer while expecting her first child, and expressed her immense gratitude for the support of our donor community. It was thanks to donor support that Martina was able to access additional world-class cancer treatments alongside the already exceptional, compassionate care at her local hospital.
Guests also heard from Marie Condon, Clinical Nurse Consultant for Cancer Care, who expressed her thanks for the donor support that has made specialised roles like hers possible, providing the gift of time, and the positive difference it has made for her patients.
This was followed by an update from Tina Chinery, CEO of St John of God Subiaco Hospital, regarding a ‘sneak peek’ of the imminent plans for a major redevelopment at the hospital.
St John of God Foundation Chair Tony Howarth AO concluded the formalities with a final thank you to guests for their attendance, continued support, and generosity in helping to create better health outcomes in our community.
Attendees were invited to experience live demonstrations of the Trident HD specimen radiography system which is used to significantly improve the surgical experience and outcomes for breast cancer patients, funded through the generosity of donors.
St John of God Foundation CEO Bianca Pietralla said the evening provided a wonderful opportunity to facilitate connections between supporters and beneficiaries, and show the real, human impact of their support.
“When I reflect on all of life’s moments that happen at our hospitals and services, our caregivers always go above and beyond caring genuinely and compassionately. All the best human qualities come to life at the bedside. Sacrifice, charity, and a love for humanity,” said Bianca.
“Through giving directly, or in your service of others, the key message I would like you to take away is that you all do good and contribute to something bigger.”