Second annual rally for JoeAnna’s House raises over $66K

It was an incredible show of support.

The community came together to raise a total of $66,599 to support JoeAnna’s House, the much-beloved home away from home for families of regional patients requiring advanced medical care at Kelowna General Hospital.

The KGH Foundation’s second annual ‘Better Together’ Day kicked off bright and early at 6 a.m. which saw dozens of locals come by the home at 321 Abbott St. to make a donation and pick up their drive-thru breakfast, sponsored by the community’s local Save-on-Foods stores.

Orchard Plaza Save-on-Foods Manager, Scott Nazaruk was handing out breakfasts, witnessing first-hand what community support is like in Kelowna.

“It was awesome,” said Nazaruk. “It was truly heartwarming to see so many folks taking time out of their day to come down and give to support this incredibly important resource for families.”

Orchard Plaza Save-on-Foods Manager Scott Nazaruk at the drive-thru breakfast (photo credit: KGH Foundation)

The support for Better Together Day from local businesses was huge.

Save-on-Foods from across the southern interior contributed over $8,000 to the cause. Christy Lovig, lawyer at Doak Shirreff and KGH Foundation board member, gave and also provided a match for all employees who did the same.

Hosts from Pattison Media radio stations, 103.1 Beach Radio and 104.7 The Lizard, were onsite from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., sharing first-hand stories from JoeAnna’s House guests and the impact it had for their families during very stressful times.

Team Construction Management, the local construction company who built JoeAnna’s House, also made a donation and challenged trades and builders. Gabe Giroux from Okanagan Painting Crew was one of the trades who took Team Construction up on the challenge and gave a generous donation. Tamara Stone, well-known local real estate agent, also stopped by and encouraged others to give.

Many volunteers and friends of JoeAnna’s House came out, including Kelowna Mayor, Colin Basran, a dedicated KGH Foundation volunteer and supporter of JoeAnna’s House, Gail Harrison with Cops for Kids, an organization that played a key role in advocating for the need for JoeAnna’s House, and Tanya Stroinig from Prestige Hotels & Resorts, the locally based, family-owned hospitality chain started by Joe and Anna Huber for whom JoeAnna’s House is named.

The Huber family provided the substantial lead gift to initiate the build of JoeAnna’s House in 2017. Since opening in November 2019, JoeAnna’s House has provided a safe haven for hundreds of regional families needing a place to stay close to KGH while their loved ones receive advanced medical care.

“It literally brings tears to my eyes,” said Darlene Haslock, manager of JoeAnna’s House. “For the families that stay here, this becomes home. And it’s all made possible by people they will never meet.”

JoeAnna’s House (Photo credit: KGH Foundation)

“JoeAnna’s House was built by the hearts and hands of people and businesses who, by working together, made the impossible possible,” says KGH Foundation CEO, Doug Rankmore. “This home is a beautiful representation of what it means to be part of a community that cares.” “We are always better together.”

For more information on JoeAnna’s House, visit joeannashouse.com.