We Care, We Can: Celebrating the Small Businesses Behind the Mission
Bowmanville, ON – May 29, 2025 – The Bowmanville Hospital Foundation welcomed over 50 passionate supporters, community and local business members at the We Care, We Can Awareness Initiative, an inspiring community event that underscored the importance of local philanthropy in shaping the future of health care in Clarington.
Held at Garnet B. Rickard Arena, the morning event featured a lineup of speakers who emphasized the urgency and impact of the hospitals rebuild project. Guests heard opening remarks from Maria Petri, CEO of the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation, followed by heartfelt messages from:
- Laura Sciore, Chair of the Board of Directors, Bowmanville Hospital Foundation
- Cindy Davis, President & CEO of Lakeridge Health
- Pankaj Panchal, Chair of the We Care, We Can Awareness Initiative Committee
- Councilor Anderson, Municipality of Clarington
- Mayor Foster, Municipality of Clarington
Each speaker offered their unique perspective on how this once-in-a-generation hospital build will transform health care delivery in the region. The event concluded with a ceremonial group photo and a symbolic flag raising at Clarington’s Town Hall – marking another year of third-party awareness initiatives.
“This event was about celebrating and continuing the campaign’s momentum,” said Maria Petri, CEO of Bowmanville Hospital Foundation. “It’s a reminder that health care is a shared responsibility. This past year, more than 65 businesses came together to raise over $125,000 towards the campaign. This is a testament to when a community comes together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.”
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community” says Pankaj Panchal, Chair, We Care, We Can Awareness Initiative Committee. “And today they showed just how powerful that heartbeat is when united for a cause like health care. The We Care, We Can campaign is about people stepping up, not because they have to, but because they care deeply about the future of Clarington. I’m incredibly proud to see local businesses rally together, proving that even the smallest contributions can lead to extraordinary impact.”
The We Care, We Can campaign supports the re-build of Bowmanville Hospital, to ensure our integrated, regional health system can continue to meet the rapidly growing demands of our community. The new hospital will undergo a significant expansion, nearly doubling its current size and include:
- Increased bed capacity
- Expanded critical care services, including Level 3 Critical Care
- All-private rooms for enhanced comfort, privacy, and infection control
- Bariatric rooms equipped for greater accessibility
- Haemodialysis Centre and new Ambulatory Clinics
- A rooftop helipad for emergency patient transport
To learn more about the campaign or to make a contribution, please visit wecareweca.ca or contact the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation at 905-623-3331 x 21881 or bhfoundation@lh.ca.