Auxiliary matches donations to help raise $317,000 for new hospital

Pictured on the future site of the County’s new hospital are members of the PECMH Auxiliary and Foundation representatives. Holding the thank you sign on the left is Lina Rinaldi, Quinte Health’s vice-president and chief nursing executive; holding the cheque are Peggy Payne, vice-chairperson of the foundation; Cathy Starkey, past-president of the Auxiliary and Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the foundation; Shannon Coull, executive director (holding a thank you sign) and Briar Boyce, senior development officer, are at far right. – Sue Vincent photo

A matching incentive pursued by the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and the hospital foundation has raised $317,000 to Back the Build of Prince Edward County’s new hospital.

This past fall, the auxiliary committed to making a 1:1 match for all new donations to the foundation’s Back the Build campaign up to $100,000 and every gift made between Oct. 23 and Jan. 31 was matched dollar for dollar.

“We are incredibly thankful to our donors for their enthusiastic response to supporting this matching gift initiative,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “We are deeply committed to building a new, leading-edge facility for our community, and the donations given over the holiday season had twice the impact, thanks to the auxiliary and our generous community of donors.”

The initiative set out to inspire community giving.

More than 230 individual donations received the 1:1 match and just before the end of 2023, Ryan and Allyson Williams, of Williams Hotels, stepped forward to top up the Auxiliary’s pledge by contributing an additional $15,000 to be matched.

“Every amount donated, big or small, helped us reach this incredible achievement,” said Susan Quaiff, president of the PECMH Auxiliary. “It’s been clear from the start that this community supports building our new hospital. The donors who were inspired to give through the match have demonstrated how much having a hospital close to home in Prince Edward County means to them.”

The foundation is thankful to the Auxiliary for helping to boost the campaign.

“We are so grateful for the auxiliary’s generous commitment. This gift reminds us how community-minded we are in Prince Edward County, working together to guarantee that healthcare services are available to those who need them for many years,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson. “The generosity shown by the hospital auxiliary and the community members who contributed to the match has been extraordinary.”

PECMHF is raising $27M to help build the new 96k square foot hospital – scheduled to open in 2027, with shovels anticipated to go into the ground in the fall of 2024.

The $27M is expected to cover 10 per cent of the bricks and mortar component of the hospital build and 100 per cent of the medical equipment. The other 90 per cent of the hard construction costs will be covered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC).

PECMHF has raised $21M in pledges and cash towards this goal, leaving approximately $6M to raise.

“It is amazing what can be accomplished when we work together,” said Coull. “Donors should never underestimate the impact they have. Every gift, regardless of size, gets us closer to our goal of having a new hospital in Prince Edward County equipped with the latest and greatest technology. Every donor brings our community closer together.”