How Listening to Donors' Moving Stories Makes Santiago Rico's Day
Published Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Santiago Rico, Donor Relations Specialist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, enjoys connecting with donors and biking in his free time.
Meet Santiago Rico, Donor Relations Specialist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
For Santiago Rico, Donor Relations Specialist working in the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation's Donation Centre, listening to donor stories is the best part of his day – even though it's sometimes the hardest part, too.
“Talking to donors when they come to the Donation Centre and getting to know why they're donating is my favourite part,” Santiago said. “Often, I'm the first person at the Foundation that they talk to. Hearing their stories about why they're donating – it's a special opportunity. Most stories are very moving, so it can be difficult. It's very touching, very emotional work.”
Santiago is no stranger to emotional work though. In his home country of Bolivia, he worked as a social worker with several organizations and causes that help people. Santiago moved to Canada for more opportunity, and to Thunder Bay in particular because of the size – and because his immigration officer, who was originally from the city, painted a great picture of it.
“It's such a close-knit community, which I thought would make it easier for me to adapt to the new environment,” he said. “As my friends say, Thunder Bay has everything you need and most things that you want.”
He worked with another charity in town before jumping at the opportunity to work at the Foundation. Santiago said that not only did it allow him to help improve local healthcare, something he's passionate about, but he can also use his data management skills.
“I make sure that every donation to the Health Sciences Foundation is properly recorded into the system,” Santiago said. “I also track to make sure donors are acknowledged including sending them a thank you letter, and ensuring that donor information is correct.”
Santiago said he sees a direct connection between donations and improvements at the Hospital.
“Right now, we see it every day out the window with the construction of the new Cardiovascular Surgery (CVS) Program,” he said. “Donors see the connections too, whether it's the da Vinci Robotic Surgery System, the new laser for the Lions Vision Care Centre, or some other piece of equipment.”
When Santiago isn't talking to donors, he enjoys biking in the summer and plans to explore winter biking as well. You might also find him playing board games with friends at one of the local coffee shops.
Santiago wants everyone who normally mails donations to know that the Donation Centre is open every business day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the main lobby, right next to Robin's Donuts. He said that many donors stop by the office while they're at the Hospital.
“With potential mail delays and negotiations still ongoing, I expect I'll be seeing more donors and hearing more stories,” Santiago said.
You're invited! Stop by anytime during office hours to meet Santiago or one of the other Donor Relations Specialists at our Donation Centre. In-person donations at the Health Sciences Foundation are always welcome (stories optional), and sometimes more convenient, especially if mailing your donation is not an option.