Hope Air releases new Strategic Plan for 2023-2025

Charity Projects Need to Support over 18,000 medical travel arrangements for patients in financial need, who must travel long distance to reach medical care.
TORONTO, April 28, 2023 – Hope Air, Canada’s national charity providing full-service travel and accommodation to Canadians who must travel for vital medical care, announced today the release of a new three-year strategic plan developed to guide the charity’s priorities through 2025. This plan also enables Hope Air to respond to the significant and ongoing challenges in the Canadian healthcare system and broader economy which are driving an increase in demand for its services.

The new Hope Air Strategic Plan reaffirms the mission of the charity: To provide Canadians in financial need with free travel, accommodation and related services for medical care far from home. The plan further articulates the key principles of Hope Air’s work including the acknowledgement that Canadians living in remote and rural communities face significant financial barriers to travel for medical care. By removing these barriers, Hope Air’s support improves the quality and outcome of health care delivered for thousands of Canadians each year.

“This new Strategic Plan will support the charity’s key impact goals of Better Health, Poverty Reduction and Stronger Communities in the years ahead” said Auriol Marasco, Chair of the Hope Air Board of Directors. “Hope Air firmly believes that where you live, or if you can afford to travel, should not impact if you live. This plan makes the commitment that no Canadian will be left behind when it comes to accessing medical care. ”

“The new Hope Air Strategic Plan anticipates a significant increase in demand and sets out ambitious targets for our charity to meet this growing need” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer. “Our expectation is to be called upon to facilitate over 18,000 travel arrangements by 2025. This will require our team and community of supporters – Donors, government, Foundations, Individuals and corporate partners – to rally to the need of Canadians in need throughout our country”.

The 2023-2025 Hope Air Strategic Plan can be viewed HERE

Background & Information Highlights:

Founded in 1986, Hope Air is a national charity that has facilitated over 170,000 travel arrangements in its history;

In 2022, Hope Air provided 10,251 travel arrangements, an increase of 51% over the prior year. This included 5,671 airline flights and 2,359 accommodation nights along with other services. Hope Air’s 2022 Impact Report is available online HERE.

Hope Air provides support to patients living in over 400 communities including all provinces.

Media Contact:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Engagement
jlumsden@hopeair.ca

About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s national charity providing free travel support through flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 170,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need. For people living on a low income in small and rural communities, distance and cost are very real barriers to them accessing vital medical care. Hope Air is a unique and essential part of our Canadian healthcare system. For more information, visit hopeair.ca

We acknowledge that we live and work on the unceded, traditional territories of many Indigenous peoples. We are grateful for the privilege of being on lands that these peoples have nurtured since time immemorial.