By Mike Vanden Bosch

Substantial donation

Chilliwack Dogwood Monarch Lions Club makes substantial donation to Fraser Valley foundation through bingo proceeds

Feb 17, 2026 | 2:53 PM

CHILLIWACK — The Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation says it is the recipient of a substantial donation from members of the Chilliwack Dogwood Monarch Lions Club, thanks to the weekly bingo game that attracts thousands of players from Chilliwack, Hope, Agassiz and Boston Bar.

In a statement Tuesday, the foundation says its director of philanthropy, Jennifer Menge, recently accepted a $46,000 cheque from the Chilliwack Dogwood Monarch Lions Club. The donation was made possible by the club’s signature fundraiser in which internet bingo is broadcasted weekly.

The magnanimous contribution will fund several important pieces of equipment for Chilliwack General Hospital:

• Vein Viewer – a device that uses near-infrared light to project a real-time, high-def map of a patient’s veins directly onto the skin’s surface.
• Pressure mapping system – technology that uses thin sensor mats placed on beds or wheelchairs to generate real-time, colour-coded visualizations of pressure distribution between a patient’s body and the surface to identify “hot spots” that cause pressure sores.
• Mobile lift – Used in healthcare to safely transfer patients with limited mobility between beds, chairs, and bathrooms.

The Chilliwack Dogwood Monarch Lions Club says its online bingo has been a community tradition for almost 30 years. Online bingo is held every Thursday evening at 6 p.m. from September to the end of June. Approximately 60 per cent of proceeds go directly to prizes, and the club says all money raised goes back right into the Chilliwack community.

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To illustrate just how wildly popular the online bingo is, an average of over $50,000 given away in prizes every week.

Ticket sales are supported by 30-plus local vendors from Chilliwack, Agassiz, Hope and Boston Bar and averages over 4,000 online players each week.

Image: Chilliwack Dogwood Monarch Lions and the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation / Tim Croitor (Lions Club Member) runs the bingo game.

As mentioned above, the club’s bingo helps fund vital community needs — from school programs and hospital equipment to search and rescue services and other essential initiatives.

For more information visit dogwoodlions.com or Chilliwack Monarch Dogwood Lions Club on Facebook.

To support Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation in raising more funds for critically important medical equipment in the Eastern Fraser Valley please visit https://www.fvhcf.ca/donate/

Tim Croitor (Lions Club Member) runs the bingo game