Foundation to help support LBJ in the works

LBJ Board Chairperson Tofoitaufa Sandra King Young [photo: JL]

The newly appointed LBJ Hospital Board is currently working on the process of establishing a public charitable foundation funded by public funds says LBJ Board Chairperson Tofoitaufa Sandra King Young.
 
She told Samoa News last week that the move to set up the charitable foundation for the hospital was to find ways to raise funds to support the work of the hospital, because LBJ is inundated with money issues and it is 40% unbudgeted.
 
“We as the community have to take action for our hospital, this is an alternative way to seek funding instead of relying completely on the federal funding,” she said.
 
Tofoitaufa said this move will also be recognition that the community can be a part of the solution. The foundation can seek assistance from the community to help increase funding which would benefit everyone.
 
“Also we will seek funding from charities off island who are willing to lend a helping hand. The LBJ board’s decision is currently being transferred onto a proper document to set up the charity and the process has begun.
 
She explained that there have been positive responses from people they have spoken to about this matter and it's long overdue. “This would help support the work of the hospital, and we hope that this is an ideal situation that the hospital would raise enough money to establish a permanent endowment for the hospital and the charitable foundation will open the doors to do it.
 
“I understand that it’s hard to raise money, and even with the economy and hardship, and the streamlining to take very opportunity, it’s not an easy task and nobody ever wants to do fundraising, [However] it’s got to be part of the solution and if we don’t do this now… when?”