Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation, Bruce Peninsula Health Services Foundation and Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation will receive $250,000 each, the first recipients in a new $1.45 million funding initiative from Bruce Power.

The announcement was made Saturday evening, February 2 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound during the OHL match up between the Windsor Spitfires and Owen Sound Attack.

The contributions will happen over a five year period with another $100,000 apiece going to hospital foundations in Clinton, Wingham, Goderich, Walkerton, Meaford, Chesley, and Hanover.

In a Bruce Power media release, the commitment will support the efforts of the foundations to provide the latest equipment and services while recognizing the important work and services provided by local hospitals to local residents and visitors.

Bruce Power announced last summer that it will focus $2 million of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budget between 2019 and 2023 on health care, mental health and education initiatives.

“Among the most important issues for families in the community are the quality of health care and education, so we decided in 2018 to focus a significant portion of our Community Investment and Sponsorship budget on those areas to help local organizations continue to provide the best care for people,” said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power’s President and CEO.

Tracy Murray, Executive Director, Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation said the Foundation was grateful to Bruce Power for their ongoing commitment to local health care in Saugeen Shores. “This recent five-year pledge will help to make planning easier for future purchases of essential and life-saving equipment for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital," said Murray.