VAUGHAN - November 3, 2008 - The Vaughan Health Care Foundation raised
$1,030,000 at its second annual fundraising event "An Enchanted Garden Gala"
held on October 23, 2008. This sold out event was presented by RBC Royal
Bank and the Carpenters' Union and hosted by CityTV Breakfast Television
personalities Frank Ferragine (Frankie Flowers) and Jennifer Valentyne.

At the event, Vaughan Health Care Foundation Chair, Michael DeGasperis,
announced the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's commitment to support
a capital planning grant to move to the next stage of planning for new
hospital services in Vaughan. Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and
Long-Term Care, George Smitherman, MPP brought greetings from the Premier of
Ontario to guests.

"We are truly pleased by the generosity and commitment that our community
continues to demonstrate year after year in support of bringing additional
health services, including a hospital, to Vaughan" says Michael DeGasperis,
"We are also thrilled that our Government has recognized the health care
needs of our ever-growing community and has given approval to move forward
with planning for Vaughan's first hospital".

The Vaughan Health Campus of Care hospital planning initiative has entered
into the Business Case/Master Programming/Master Planning stage of
development according to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's capital
planning process. The Ministry will provide a capital grant for this
initiative. This approval follows the submission made last spring by The
Central Local Health Integration Network and the Vaughan Health Care
Foundation identifying the hospital services needs of the Vaughan Community.

The need for greater health care infrastructure in Vaughan is well known.
With a population that will soon reach 300,000, Vaughan residents face
numerous challenges in accessing the care they deserve when and where they
need it most.


Photos from the event have been posted on the Interactive Chamber's web
site, at the link below. These photos are the property of the photographer
and the Foundation. We respectfully request that there be no reproduction,
distribution or posting on line without approval from the Foundation.
http://www.interactivechamber.com/events/october/23/VHC/index.aspx  


For more information, please contact:

Anastasia Vogt
Vaughan Health Care Foundation
Vaughan Health Campus of Care
(905) 303-1998
avogt@vaughanhealthcare.com
www.vaughanhealthcare.com