Telus donation surprises foundation

A donation of $425,000 to the RIH Foundation will go towards the hospital’s new intensive care unit.

Veronica Carroll, executive officer of the foundation, said she was surprised to learn of the donation. It is $65,000 greater than what the corporation offered when it join the foundation’s Team Recchi roster a year ago. The total represents the largest donation ever made to the foundation.

The new ICU will offer 17 private patient rooms and five airborne isolation rooms, including a bariatric room, as well as new support space for staff and a family entrance, waiting area and quiet room. The unit is 80 per cent larger than the previous space.

The largest private employer in B.C., Telus has contributed $1.2 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations in Kamloops through Team Telus charitable giving and volunteer programs while company volunteers have donated 80,000 hours in charitable support.