Changing the playbook for local cancer care — Game On Gala raises $574,496!

The Belleville General Hospital Foundation is proud to announce that its re-imagined Game On Gala raised an impressive $574,496 gross, helping accelerate efforts to transform cancer care at Quinte Health Belleville General Hospital.

More than 340 guests filled the fully transformed CAA Arena — the highest attendance in more than 12 years — enjoying a vibrant, competitive, sports-themed evening that has kept the town buzzing. From golf simulators and basketball shootouts to rodeo bull riding and a host of interactive challenges, guests embraced a night that celebrated both play and purpose. The complete arena makeover, combined with elevated versions of stadium classics prepared by Chef Matt Sullivan and the OVG Group, created an atmosphere unlike anything the gala has seen before.

Funds raised at the Game On Gala move BGHF closer to its vital $800,000 goal to purchase a state-of-the-art TOMO synthesis mammography machine for the Breast Imaging Department.

This advanced technology produces clearer, more detailed images of breast tissue, improving the accuracy of early detection and reducing unnecessary callbacks — particularly important for patients with dense breast tissue. The need for upgraded diagnostic equipment has become more urgent since the Ontario Breast Cancer Screening Program lowered the recommended screening age to 40 last year, increasing demand and highlighting the importance of timely, precise imaging.

“This year’s Game On Gala captured the very best of our community,” said Steven Cook, Executive Director of the Belleville General Hospital Foundation.  “Seeing 340 guests come together — our highest number in over a decade — to champion better cancer care was truly inspiring. The energy, generosity, and competitive spirit in the room showed just how deeply our region cares about bringing TOMO synthesis mammography to the patients who need it most.”

John Mathers of the Belleville Senators reflected on the partnership: “Working with the Foundation to bring the Game On concept to life inside the CAA Arena was an absolute pleasure. Chef Matt Sullivan and the OVG Group truly elevated stadium-food favorites, and the community’s response was incredible. The games, the atmosphere, and the cause all came together to create a night Belleville won’t forget.”

As part of the post-event financial summary, the Foundation confirmed a net amount of $385,235 raised — placing this year’s gala among the strongest fundraising outcomes in its 25+ year history.  This reflects a cost to raise a dollar of $0.33, which is significantly stronger than typical charitable event benchmarks and well within Imagine Canada’s recommended fundraising efficiency standards for the sector.

We would like to thank our sponsors — especially our title sponsors McDougall Insurance and CIBC Wood Gundy Brady Clark Advisory Group — for their invaluable support of the BGH Foundation Gala. Looking ahead, the Foundation believes that the Game On concept has the potential to become a signature staple in the region’s social calendar, building on this year’s momentum and offering even more opportunities for community engagement, creativity, and impact in the years to come.