People in the Grande Prairie area have helped raise over $55,000 for the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation through the annual Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie Campaign.  

Once again, this year, local business owner Sean Sargent purchased and delivered 20,000 Cookies to schools, hospitals, and public sector programs around the city using a historically accurate A-Team van to kick off the smile cookie campaign in September. 

Hospital Foundation Major Gifts Officer Dawn Miller says she is awestruck at how big the yearly event has become.  

“Initially they made a commitment to our capital campaign for $350,000. This brings us over the 400,000 mark.”  

Miller mentioned that with the extra money they are hoping to add extra equipment to two rooms on the pediatric floor. The money is put into an endowment fund as part of the foundation's Key to Care Campaign which will help buy equipment for children and teen playrooms in the new hospital. They are hoping to add some technology and other items for the teen room. She said they will be working with the donors to discuss where the extra money will go. The funds will allow the hospital to add some final changes before the December 4th opening.  

 

Cookie presentatiponCheque presented to GP Hospital Foundation/ReachFM Photo

Tim Horton’s franchise owner Serge Allard is also pleased with how this year’s campaign went.  

“The cookie campaign this year has done very, very well. We did over $55,000 and Sean Sargent has helped us a tremendous amount again this year and we're grateful for that." 

Allard mentioned for close to ten years they have been supporting this initiative and said it is not just for children or the elderly it is for the whole community.  

“It's for all of Grande Prairie and area in some ways, so it's a great way to get involved. At the end of the day someone will always need the hospital, whereas like other programs, it might only be for specific people.”