July 19, 2022Longtime Northern Health Foundation supporter and patron Josie Minniti OAM, has generously donated $20,000 to the refurbishment of the Palliative Care Unit (PCU) garden at Northern Hospital Epping.
Her donation will go towards the centerpiece of the garden – a beautiful gazebo with an outdoor table, sofas, a barbecue, and blinds, for palliative care patients to share with their families, friends and loved ones. The garden surrounding the structure will be funded through money raised from Northern Health Foundation’s 2022 Dry July campaign.
The $20,000 was raised at Josie’s annual Dinner Dance Cancer Fundraiser, which was held in March. This year’s event marked the 25th year that Josie has hosted the event. Although the COVID-19 pandemic postponed her milestone event multiple times, the event was well attended.
“The garden will be a lovely space for patients to spend quality time with their loved ones,” Josie said.
Josie has funded many life-changing pieces of equipment for Northern Health. She is passionate about cancer services as her family has been personally touched by the disease. In the past, she has helped raise money for treatment chairs, waiting room chairs, a prostate cancer scanner and a refurbished room in the Children’s Ward.
“My family and I, and my supporters, feel very privileged to be in a position to provide a beautiful space for families to spend time together,” Josie said.
Josie’s donation will go a long way to ensure the garden is a beautiful, peaceful space, for families to enjoy with their loved ones, who are in end of life care.
Earlier this month, Northern Health Foundation hosted a sausage sizzle fundraiser and a cake stand, with all proceeds going to Dry July. Tomorrow, staff will be able to buy pizza slices for a gold coin donation, in the Northern Hospital Epping foyer from 1 pm.
Northern Health Foundation is grateful for the support Josie has shown over the many years. We thank her, and everyone who has contributed to the Foundation’s Dry July campaign, for their incredible support for an important cause.
To donate to our Dry July campaign, click here.
Featured image: Steve Micallef, Team Leader Grounds, Engineering and Building Services and Josie Minniti
