Gerry and Kathy Ryan, owners of a vineyard in Summerland, are challenging other grape growers in the region to support the Penticton Regional Hospital.
The Ryans planted a 2.8-hectare vineyard overlooking Okanagan Lake eight years ago.
This year, they have donated $5,000 to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation in support of its annual Tree of Dreams fundraising campaign. They are asking other grape growers to match that amount.
Gerry said since most grape growers get paid for their crop in December, this is a good time to issue the challenge.
READ ALSO:
READ ALSO:
sa国际传媒淯sually itsa国际传媒檚 this time of year when most of the vineyards are being paid for the crop theysa国际传媒檝e sold to the wineries,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭he vineyard and wine industry is a major employer and source of commerce in the Okanagan Similkameen.sa国际传媒�
The Ryans have direct connections to the hospital. Gerry is the past-chair on the SOS Medical Foundationsa国际传媒檚 board and has been a director for 12 years. Kathy works as a volunteer at the SOS Caf茅 in the lobby of the hospitalsa国际传媒檚 new David E. Kampe Tower.
sa国际传媒淲e think the Medical Foundation is a worthwhile charity for us to support. The hospital serves us all sa国际传媒� everybody benefits from having the best healthcare available,sa国际传媒� Gerry said.
Kathy said she has learned some new skills, including being a barista, at the SOS Caf茅 which directs its profits to the hospital through the medical foundation.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e never made a latte before sa国际传媒� and even handling cash was never something Isa国际传媒檝e ever done before. Itsa国际传媒檚 a lot of fun,sa国际传媒� she said.
Carey Bornn, the foundationsa国际传媒檚 executive director, said any additional support from grape growers would be a welcome addition to the Tree of Dreams campaign.
This yearsa国际传媒檚 goal of $925,000 will be used to fund a second specialized hip surgery table, new mammography machine, EEG (electroencephalogram) unit and new colonoscopy scopes at the hospital.
To donate, contact the medical foundation at 250-492-9027 or visit their website at .
To report a typo, email:
news@summerlandreview.com.
news@summerlandreview.com
Like us on and follow us on .
