 The Buhlers were especially grateful to the incredible care they received from Dr. Mathen and Dr. Bellan over the years. Bonnie and John Buhler’s journey with and support of Misericordia Health Centre (MHC) dates back decades. Bonnie’s parents received eye care at the centre. After hearing an appeal from her father’s doctor about the need to expand the ophthalmology clinic and hire more specialists, the Buhlers became donors.
They helped fund the redevelopment of MHC’s ophthalmology clinics nearly two decades ago and recently made a generous gift of $1.5 million to the Eye Care Centre of Excellence. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to be without your eyesight,” Bonnie says. Several years ago, Bonnie, experiencing spots in her vision, visited the urgent eye clinic at Misericordia. She required laser surgery. “It was a long weekend, and the doctor’s shift had just ended, but he put his things down and took care of myself and another gentleman.” Going above and beyond is part of MHC’s reputation. MHC’s Eye Care Centre of Excellence is the largest eye care centre in Western Canada, treating over 40,000 patients annually in its specialty eye clinics and performing 15,000 eye surgeries every year. “As Johnny aged with macular degeneration, his world became really small because he was losing his sight, and it made it a lot harder,” Bonnie shares. “When Johnny had cataract surgery, Dr. van der Zweep did it. They let me stay with him because he had dementia, but they were just [as] caring of me as [for] him. It was amazing. They really went out of their way to make sure that he was well taken care of.” The Buhler’s latest gift, made before John’s passing, in late 2023, will continue their legacy of caring by helping to acquire two crucial specialized pieces of equipment for the eye care centre. The first is highly efficient retinal imaging equipment, which enables faster and more accessible assessments for patients. The second is a surgical microscope that will help with a variety of procedures, including retinal surgeries, corneal transplants, and cataract and glaucoma surgeries. Dr. John van der Zweep, head of ophthalmology, emphasizes the incredible scope of the Buhlers’ investment: “The entire team at the Eye Care Centre of Excellence is extremely grateful to the Buhlers for their extraordinary investments in innovation. Thanks to their generosity, our clinics are equipped with cutting-edge technology that enables the timely diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. Their support is quite literally saving sight and restoring vision every single day.” “I can’t say enough good things about the people at the health centre – the doctors, the staff, everybody,” Bonnie reiterates. “So many people that have told us that they’ve gone to the eye care centre, and there’s been nothing but praise for all of the doctors and the care they’ve received.” “John and Bonnie’s profound philanthropic commitment to Manitoba cannot be overstated. Misericordia Health Centre Foundation is deeply grateful and humbled for their years of unwavering support and heartfelt friendship. Because of their generosity, MHC is immeasurably stronger,” says Kris Gladwell, President & CEO of MHC Foundation. To see the full announcement in The Winnipeg Free Press by writer Kristin Marand, please click here.
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 MHCF President & CEO, Kris Gladwell (left), and MHCF Board Chair, Tracey Code (right) As we welcome 2025, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. Your incredible generosity has played an essential role in supporting Misericordia Health Centre (MHC) as they focus on providing unique and highly specialized care for all Manitobans as we build a healthier future for our community.
The future of care at MHC is bright! Looking ahead, the needs of MHC’s patients and their families remain as critical as ever, and we are excited about the opportunities to further our impact on health care together. With your continued support, we are confident that we can make great strides in supporting those who need it most. Seeing is believing! It was an honour to be with so many of you last year at our signature MHCF events. Hearing firsthand how connected we all are to MHC is truly inspiring and I look forward to seeing you all again this year! Please mark your calendars – the Misericordia Golf Classic is teed up for June 12 at Breezy Bend Country Club, InVision is set for October 23 at RBC Convention Centre, and Angel Squad will kick off once again on Giving Tuesday, December 2 – right here at MHC! Together, we are transforming lives today and building a healthier tomorrow. We are excited to continue this journey with you by our side, and we look forward to sharing more updates on the profound impact of your giving in the year ahead. Thank you for being such an integral part of our mission. Wishing you a happy and healthy year! Kris It was 40 years ago that MHC Foundation was established to support the Misericordia Sisters’ vision – giving our philanthropic community the opportunity to invest in the unique and specialized care that all Manitobans deserve – and that only MHC can offer them.
The Future of Care at MHC is bright! Your generosity has brought innovative technology, comforting supports, and much-needed hope to patients, residents, and all those who walk through Misericordia’s doors. From Pediatric Dentistry to Long-Term Care to the Eye Care Centre of Excellence – you have strengthened MHC’s ability to provide innovative and compassionate care for all Manitobans. The generosity we’ve seen from so many of you over these years is truly remarkable – thank you. Seeing is believing! As it is every year, it was so wonderful to see so many of you at our signature MHC events last year, and I look forward to seeing you all again this year! Mark your calendars – the Misericordia Golf Classic is set for June 13 at Breezy Bend Country Club, InVision is set for October 16 at the RBC Convention Centre and Angel Squad will kick off the holiday season on Giving Tuesday, December 3 – right here at MHC! As you continue on this journey with us, you’ll see firsthand through MHC Moments how we are all connected – the stories and successes we share are a true testament to your generosity. Let’s stay connected – please make sure you are our friends on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter! Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024! Kris 2023 brings incredible opportunities to see more clearly.
As we enter this New Year, we are reminded just how highly adaptable we all can be during even the toughest of times. As Misericordia Health Centre (MHC) continues to work tirelessly to care for patients and their families when it matters most, we are in complete awe of the strength of our community and the direct impact your support has. Each and every one of you reading this is an essential part of our donor community, and together we are shaping the Future of Care at MHC. With your dedication and generosity, you are enabling MHC to dream bigger than ever before, and forge a new path forward. MHC has recently released their strategic plan, which highlights some ambitious goals. As we embark on this critical journey of growth and expansion together, we are inspired and ready for the next phase of our journey. A journey that would not be possible with out you. Thank you. The Future is Bright. The future is in our hands – and, with you by our side, we can provide the much-needed hope and inspiration to MHC’s front line. Those that make MHC what it is today, and those that will make MHC what it will be for generations to come. We can’t wait to see what can be accomplished this year and beyond. Seeing is Believing. It was so wonderful to meet so many of you at our signature MHC events last year, and I look forward to seeing you all again this year! Mark your calendars – the Misericordia Golf Classic is set for June 15 at Breezy Bend Country Club, InVision is set for September 21 at the RBC Convention Centre, and Angel Squad will kick off the holiday season on November 28 right here at MHC! In addition, we are also so excited to see Misericordia Place residents once again set off on some adventures through this year’s Around the World campaign – more details will be coming out on February 1, so stay tuned! As you continue on this journey with us, you’ll see firsthand through MHC Moments how we are all connected – the stories and successes we share are a true testament to your generosity. Let’s stay connected – please make sure you are our friends on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter! Best wishes for a healthy and successful 2023! With gratitude, Kris As I enter my third year of leading the Misericordia Health Centre Foundation, I remain completely in awe of the amazing community that surrounds Misericordia. Even in some of the most challenging times, a bright light of compassion and positivity can always be found from our donors, volunteers, staff, and our patients and residents.
Thank you. At every peak of every wave and everything in between, the outpouring of support you have shown to Misericordia has been beyond touching and incredibly appreciated. Your generosity has brought innovative technology, comforting supports, and hope to patients, residents, and all those who walk through Misericordia’s doors. From Pediatric Dentistry to Long-Term Care to the Eye Care Centre of Excellence – you have strengthened MHC’s ability to provide innovative and compassionate care for all Manitobans. While we remain flexible in our planning for 2022, we do look forward to greeting you in person at our signature MHC events! Mark your calendars – the Misericordia Golf Classic is set for June 16 at Breezy Bend Country Club, the InVision Fall event is set for September 22 at the RBC Convention Centre, and Angel Squad will kick off the holiday season on November 29 right here at MHC! Of course, we are also so excited to see our long-term care residents set off on some “Made in Manitoba” adventures through this year’s Around the World campaign! Beyond our events and campaigns, 2022 will be a year of significant and foundational work for our team. We aim to engage in strategic planning to set many important priorities and plans in place that will continue to allow us to support MHC as it evolves to meet the health-care needs of our community. Whatever lies ahead, you can rest assured that MHC’s commitment to providing exceptional and compassionate care will never waver. I hope that you will continue to follow Misericordia’s story and share feedback! We enjoy connecting with you regularly through our MHC Moments e-newsletter and via social media. Please make sure you are our friends on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter! Thank you for being a part of the MHC Foundation family. With gratitude, Kris |
