VGH and Rossbrook Team up for Summer Games

September 4, 2008 | Community News | Archive 2008

As the Beijing games were coming to a close, the Olympic spirit continued to burn brightly in Winnipeg where a group of young athletes from Rossbrook House were gearing up for their own Summer Games, with the help of employees from Victoria General Hospital (VGH).

Volunteers from Victoria General Hospital cheer on young race participants during a United Way Day of Caring at Rossbrook House in Winnipeg

A United Way agency partner, Rossbrook House is a neighbourhood centre that offers children, youth and young adults an alternative to life on the streets.

In what has become an annual tradition, ten staff members from various parts of VGH teamed up with Rossbrook as part of a Day of Caring on Wednesday, August 26, 2008.

"VGH is the small hospital with a big heart and clear vision," says Philip Friesen, Manager of Nutritional Services for VGH and the Day of Caring coordinator. "We want to give back to the community we are all part of."

VGH volunteers helped organize day two of the three-day event. They coordinated games and races, and assisted in preparing a barbeque dinner for the young athletes. The VGH team also supplemented the menu with veggies and ice cream, and supplied ribbons and prizes for the various competitions.

"The Day of Caring lets the kids know that there are other people out there that care about them too," says Audrey Campbell, Program Manager at Rossbrook House. "The volunteers who come out are so fun, patient and giving - It's just a great day and I know the kids appreciate it."

VGH also partners with the Victoria General Hospital Foundation each year for a two-week United Way workplace campaign that boasts participation from the majority of employees, says Friesen. The theme for this year's campaign is "We are the World," a celebration of the cultural diversity among staff and within the community.

Partnerships like that between VGH and Rossbrook House are terrific examples of people in the community coming together to build a brighter future for our city by encouraging youth to reach higher and go further.

A message to Winnipeg about United Way's campaign Janury 5, 2012