Whether it's a concert, raffle, ticket draw or a special fundraising event hosted by the Foundation, there are many opportunities for someone to get involved in helping community healthcare.

Tree Lighting Ceremony Honours Loved Ones This Holiday Season

On Friday, December 1st, 2023, the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation celebrated its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Railway Station in Barry’s Bay. The memorial tree was lit in honour and in memory of loved ones.

A special thanks goes out to Madawaska Valley Township for sponsoring the event, including finding, setting up and decorating the tree as well as hosting our celebration at the Railway Station. Thank you to Madawaska Coffee Co for providing the hot refreshments for the evening. A big thanks goes to the hospital dietary department for making the delicious cookies for attendees!

And thank you to Simmons Sport Horses for getting their mini horses all dolled up and sharing them with the community!

Our Hospital Choir was a hit and provided songs during the night. Thank you Sherry Kym and Stan Quesnelle for providing the sound system.

Once again, our angels returned from local elementary schools to help light the tree with our Chief Angel, Dr. Jason Malinowski.

A number of volunteers assisted with the night including Theresa Prince, Theresa Chapeskie, Sue McAllister, Donna Smith, Maxine Smaglinski and even Santa himself!

If you were unable to attend, you can watch the ceremony on our Facebook page.

Read our Tree of Lights Campaign wrap-up newsletter here!

Ace of Spades found after 35 weeks on June 8, 2023!

Congratulations to Eve Barnes of Ottawa and Round Lake Centre, winner of the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation’s Catch the Ace progressive draw – lottery 6!

Eve bought her ticket from Round Lake Centre Food Market, as she had done in the past. She chose number 28 because it was “just sitting there in the middle of the board.” Not only was her ticket picked during the Week 35 draw on June 8^th earning her the weekly prize of $2,408, she managed to find the Ace of Spades – meaning she also won the progressive jackpot of $68,038.50!  

She plans on sharing some of the funds with family and finally completing a few projects around the house. Eve said she supports the Catch the Ace draw because she already feels like a winner just purchasing tickets, as proceeds raised goes toward the purchase of medical equipment for St. Francis Memorial Hospital.

As longtime cottagers to the area, the Barnes family is grateful to have a local hospital nearby. Eve brought her daughter Tara and son Mike to the cheque presentation, and was congratulated by Catch the Ace volunteers, St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation Board members and hospital staff.

Thank you to our incredible group of Catch the Ace drivers and counters and to the vendors who sold tickets every week including: Round Lake Centre Food Market, Round Lake Country Store, AJ’s Convenience, Killaloe Hardware, Wilno Building Supply, Charlie D’s, Barry’s Bay MacEwen, the Foundation office, Valley Manor, Barry’s Bay Ultramar, Lorraine's Pharmasave, Barry’s Bay Shell, CO Country Market, The Cottage Cup, Eganville Shell, Conway’s Pharmacy, Village Discount and Variety, Ramona’s Hairstyling and Whitney Pharmacy.

Stay tuned for another round of Catch the Ace lottery – coming soon!

Here’s how the lottery works

The lottery starts with 52 playing cards individually sealed in manila envelopes numbered 1 through 52 and secured in a display case. Nobody knows which envelope contains the Ace of Spades – until the lucky winner catches it!

When tickets are purchased, supporters will be asked to pre-select an envelope number on their ticket stub.  The lucky weekly winner takes home 20% of that week’s ticket revenues and the envelope number selected on the ticket will be opened to reveal a playing card. If the card is not the Ace of Spades, the card will be destroyed and the lottery continues for another week.  If the card is the Ace of Spades, the weekly winner also wins the progressive jackpot!  The progressive jackpot grows each week with 30% of weekly ticket sales revenue being added in.

For complete rules and regulations, click the link below.

REMAINING ENVELOPES FOR LOTTERY 6 (starts Oct. 6th 2022)

WEEKLY WINNERS FOR LOTTERY 6 (First draw held Oct. 13, 2022)
Click the image below to watch the corresponding draw.

A total of 38 teams gathered at the Homestead at Wolf Ridge Golf Course for the 19th annual Friends of St Francis Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. 

Running in conjunction with the tournament was the popular online auction that wrapped up on Friday as well.  Volunteers and staff of the St Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation organized both events and were thrilled with the results.

Erin Gienow, Executive Director of the SFVHF, said proceeds from the tournament and auction will help support the needs of local healthcare, including the purchase of two digital Workstations, two stretchers, and a telemetry unit/pack for St. Francis Memorial Hospital. 

Although exact figures are still being tallied, this year’s events were very successful.

The winning foursome in the tournament was Kenny Yandernoll’s team with a score of minus 15.  Teammates included Tony Shulist, Jack Shulist and Lyle Shulist.

The putting contest was won by Jonathan Davidson, who received a gift certificate from the Ash Grove Inn for a night’s stay, dinner and breakfast. 

The following contest winners won gift certificates for Metro gift cards donated by the Barry’s Bay Metro: Brent Dalgleish and Shirley Radey (Men’s and Ladies Closest to the Line, respectively; Mike Murack (Men’s Most Accurate); Scott Gougeon (Closest to the Pin on Green); Mike Weatherbed (Men’s Most Accurate); Matthew Grys (Longest Putt); Doreen Shulist (Ladies Most Accurate); Linda Kloosterman (Closest to the Pin – Ladies); Linda Yuke (Ladies Most Accurate); and Allan Mullin (Closest to the Pin on Green – Men’s).

Brian Moore won gift cards donated by Golf Town for being Closest to the Target on Hole #5.

During dinner, Chief Operating Officer Greg McLeod thanked everyone who made the day a success, including the 152 golfers, over 125 sponsors (golf and online auction), bidders, and many volunteers. He said although it’s always nice to gather for a round of golf, the tournament has a greater purpose in that it’s raising funds which will eventually help our neighbours, friends and loved ones someday.

Those present were also entertained in the afternoon by musical guests, Dr Jason Malinowski, Amy Easton and Kirk Harber who are members of the Odd Men Out band. 

While fun was had by all, Gienow added, “we hope that everyone that contributed to the tournament and online auction know that they are making a tremendous impact on local healthcare by ensuring that our wonderful staff have the tools they need to care for us all!”

2022 Friends of St. Francis Charity Golf Tournament!

Thank you to our many sponsors who supported the 2022 Friends of St. Francis Charity Golf Tournament and Online Auction!

2021 Friends of St. Francis Charity Golf Tournament!

View the welcome video on YouTube by Clicking Here.

2020 Friends of St. Francis Virtual Charity Event!

Memories of the 2023 Memorial Butterfly Release 

Event Ideas

When it comes to event ideas, the opportunities are endless. We’ve started this list to get your creative juices flowing. Feel free to use some of these ideas or make your event entirely your own!

• Garage Sale
• BBQ
• Dinner Party
• Run/Walk
• Sporting Event
• Party/Function
• Raffle
• Bake Sale
• Trivia Night
• Church Function
• Arts and Crafts Sale/Show

Tips for Event Success

1. Choose an event
2. Pick a date and time for your event
3. Get to know the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation. People are more likely to donate when you can clearly articulate why a cause is important and why you need their support. Visit our website to learn more about us.
4. Form a volunteer event planning committee. If your planning committee has enough members to share tasks and a variety of skills & experience, you will have the right formula for a winning event.
5. Create a work plan (and budget if necessary – an organized event is a successful event). Be sure to research whether your event will require any special permit, licenses, and/or insurance.
6. Promote your event
7. Have a back-up plan. Make sure you have a ‘plan B’, especially if your event is dependent on factors like the weather.

Support from the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation

• Publicity and promotion via St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation’s social media pages including Facebook, our website, & display monitor (see below for more details)
• Recognition- We are pleased to make arrangements with local newspapers to cover the event and/or if possible be present for cheque presentations.

Donations/Tax Receipt Guidelines

• Please contact the Foundation if you have any questions regarding tax receipts. 

Publicity and Promotion

• Eye-catching flyers, tickets, & other promotional materials will help make your event a success. The correct usage of the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation’s name or logo is very important to us. Foundation staff will be available to work with you to approve the use of the name and logo prior to the event or distribution of materials. All promotional materials should make clear, where applicable, that the funds are being raised in support of the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation rather than by the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation.

Thank you for your interest in hosting your own fundraising event on behalf of the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation. Every little bit counts and we appreciate your efforts to help us raise money to support local healthcare in your community.

Once you have an idea for the type of event you would like to host, please contact us at

613-756-3044 ext. 217 or office@sfvhfoundation.com.