Fowler takes helm at St. Boniface Hospital Foundation

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This article was published 12/05/2021 (1849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Karen Fowler is the new president and chief executive officer of the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation.

Before being appointed on a permanent basis recently, Fowler had held both roles on an interim basis since replacing previous president and CEO Vince Barletta last September.

Fowler takes the helm during a landmark year for the foundation, which serves as the main fundraising body for St. Boniface Hospital, and the hospital, too — it’s the foundation’s 50th anniversary, and the hospital’s 150th year.

“Looking ahead, it’s very exciting and I’m really to be given the opportunity to lead the organization forward,” Fowler said. “Given the two anniversaries, I see this as a great opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the deep history both organizations have in our community, not least in terms of compassionate patient care, and excellence in medical research. We’re super lucky that we have such a hospital here in Winnipeg, and it’s super significant that it has an international reputation for world-class medical research, which gives credit to our amazing researchers.”

No stranger to working at the foundation, Fowler has served in increasingly senior roles since joining in 2017, and established herself as a seasoned professional fundraiser, bringing key strengths in relationship-building, mentorship, and strategic planning to the organization, officials say. She’s worked with a number of health care and educational fundraising organizations in Manitoba and Alberta since 1997.

And while the ongoing pandemic means that long-term planning for events presents many unknowns, Fowler said she hopes there will be virtual opportunities down the line to celebrate the foundation’s landmark birthday.

“I’m really hoping over the coming year that we’re able to recognize some of the significant projects we’ve been able to support, particularly in response to COVID-19. Our donors have really stepped up to support our front-line workers, and we’d like to share some exciting initiatives in the future,” she said.

“I’m really fortunate to be working in an organization with incredible donor support — the foundation has raised $253-million in the last 50 years. Many of our donors have given to the foundation for 30 or more years, which is an amazing in terms of loyalty and generosity.”

Go online at stbhf.ca for more information about the foundation.