Northpine and Hope Air Unite to Enhance Healthcare Access in Rural Newfoundland and Labrador
The Northpine Foundation and Hope Air, an organization facilitating medical travel for Canadians in need, proudly announce a collaboration to improve healthcare accessibility in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, through a $1.75 million investment from the Foundation. This initiative is a vital contribution toward Hope Air’s efforts to address challenges faced by residents in accessing vital medical care.
In Canada, particularly in remote regions like Newfoundland and Labrador, geographical distances often hinder individuals from accessing the specialized healthcare services they might need. Financial challenges due to travel costs compound the already challenging situation of a difficult medical diagnosis.
Northpine’s investment will support the mission of Hope Air providing approximately 4,500 medically necessary travel arrangements for residents in financial need in Newfoundland and Labrador, enabling them to access crucial diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care.
“Northpine is dedicated to supporting underserved communities. When people can get timely treatment, it can reduce disease progression and complications, easing the burden on the healthcare system. Our collaboration with Hope Air underscores our belief that accessible healthcare is one of the keys to creating thriving communities”, said Impact Director for Newfoundland and Labrador, Mark Lane.
Hope Air’s comprehensive programs, including flights, accommodations, ground transportation, and meals are instrumental in easing the burden on patients and their families, relieving the stress associated with medical travel, and enabling patients to focus on their health and well-being.
“This investment from Northpine to support Hope Air’s work to eliminate barriers to healthcare access, is transformational,” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer Hope Air. “At a time where demand is exceeding available resources, this investment has a significant impact, allowing Hope Air to provide essential travel support to individuals and families facing financial hardship, ensuring that geography is not a deterrent to receiving quality medical care.”
This investment will fund approximately 60% of Hope Air’s projected travel in the province over the next three years, relieving the short-term pressure to significantly enhance fundraising to keep pace with growing demand. The Northpine investment in Hope Air will not only sustain its current programs and services in the province but will facilitate research and the collection of data, aimed to enhance the quantification of the true social impact of its initiatives across healthcare, poverty reduction and community development outcomes.
“It was impossible – there was no way we could commit to the travel schedule,” says Cindy, who travels with her sons Jayden and Logan from St. John’s to Toronto. “Without Hope Air, we would have had to move to Toronto and without support from our friends and family, it really helped our mental health and well-being to have our support system close at home [in St. John’s].”
With insights from this research, Hope Air and Northpine will collaborate with other key stakeholders in the province including government, corporates, and philanthropy, to ensure ongoing and sustainable investments and funding to adequately address the demand for Hope Air services in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Supported by Northpine’s investment, as Hope Air continues to expand its reach in the province, this venture reflects a shared commitment to improving health outcomes in a mission to build stronger, more resilient communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Media Inquiries:
Jodi Lumsden, Director, Marketing & Engagement, Hope Air
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
Mark Lane, Impact Director – Rural Newfoundland & Labrador, The Northpine Foundation
mark@northpinefoundation.ca
About Hope Air:
Hope Air is Canada’s only 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 180,000 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. Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards. This accreditation validates our commitment to good governance and transparency. For more information, visit hopeair.ca.
About Northpine Foundation:
The Northpine Foundation works with a vision to propel and expand outcome-centered innovation in Canada. As a start-up philanthropic organization, Northpine provides catalytic funding through tailored financing (donations, grants, loans, equity, or blend), along with expertise, networks, and other non-financial supports to help underinvested and underserved cohorts thrive and flourish. Page 3 of 3 Focused on a core value of kindness in every undertaking, the Northpine Foundation designs, funds, and collaborates on initiatives that combine best practices with new, untried approaches to drive scalable change towards a healthy and resilient Canada.
In Canada, particularly in remote regions like Newfoundland and Labrador, geographical distances often hinder individuals from accessing the specialized healthcare services they might need. Financial challenges due to travel costs compound the already challenging situation of a difficult medical diagnosis.
Northpine’s investment will support the mission of Hope Air providing approximately 4,500 medically necessary travel arrangements for residents in financial need in Newfoundland and Labrador, enabling them to access crucial diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care.
“Northpine is dedicated to supporting underserved communities. When people can get timely treatment, it can reduce disease progression and complications, easing the burden on the healthcare system. Our collaboration with Hope Air underscores our belief that accessible healthcare is one of the keys to creating thriving communities”, said Impact Director for Newfoundland and Labrador, Mark Lane.
Hope Air’s comprehensive programs, including flights, accommodations, ground transportation, and meals are instrumental in easing the burden on patients and their families, relieving the stress associated with medical travel, and enabling patients to focus on their health and well-being.
“This investment from Northpine to support Hope Air’s work to eliminate barriers to healthcare access, is transformational,” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer Hope Air. “At a time where demand is exceeding available resources, this investment has a significant impact, allowing Hope Air to provide essential travel support to individuals and families facing financial hardship, ensuring that geography is not a deterrent to receiving quality medical care.”
This investment will fund approximately 60% of Hope Air’s projected travel in the province over the next three years, relieving the short-term pressure to significantly enhance fundraising to keep pace with growing demand. The Northpine investment in Hope Air will not only sustain its current programs and services in the province but will facilitate research and the collection of data, aimed to enhance the quantification of the true social impact of its initiatives across healthcare, poverty reduction and community development outcomes.
“It was impossible – there was no way we could commit to the travel schedule,” says Cindy, who travels with her sons Jayden and Logan from St. John’s to Toronto. “Without Hope Air, we would have had to move to Toronto and without support from our friends and family, it really helped our mental health and well-being to have our support system close at home [in St. John’s].”
With insights from this research, Hope Air and Northpine will collaborate with other key stakeholders in the province including government, corporates, and philanthropy, to ensure ongoing and sustainable investments and funding to adequately address the demand for Hope Air services in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Supported by Northpine’s investment, as Hope Air continues to expand its reach in the province, this venture reflects a shared commitment to improving health outcomes in a mission to build stronger, more resilient communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Media Inquiries:
Jodi Lumsden, Director, Marketing & Engagement, Hope Air
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
Mark Lane, Impact Director – Rural Newfoundland & Labrador, The Northpine Foundation
mark@northpinefoundation.ca
About Hope Air:
Hope Air is Canada’s only 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 180,000 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. Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards. This accreditation validates our commitment to good governance and transparency. For more information, visit hopeair.ca.
About Northpine Foundation:
The Northpine Foundation works with a vision to propel and expand outcome-centered innovation in Canada. As a start-up philanthropic organization, Northpine provides catalytic funding through tailored financing (donations, grants, loans, equity, or blend), along with expertise, networks, and other non-financial supports to help underinvested and underserved cohorts thrive and flourish. Page 3 of 3 Focused on a core value of kindness in every undertaking, the Northpine Foundation designs, funds, and collaborates on initiatives that combine best practices with new, untried approaches to drive scalable change towards a healthy and resilient Canada.