Donations toward hospital smart beds being doubled

Trudy Brown and Phyo Kyi with a smart patient bed in PECMH

A $10,000 donation to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation was doubled to $20,000, thanks to a matching gift campaign.

The donation, from Trudy Brown and Phyo Kyi, and the matching funds, support the purchase of smart patient beds for the new hospital.

Smart beds are fully adjustable and designed to improve comfort, safety, and healing. They help reduce the risk of falls and pressure injuries, offer built-in safety prompts, and support patients throughout their hospital stay.

With more than 850 inpatient stays each year, this equipment can make a meaningful difference for patients and care teams alike.

“Healthcare is a basic human need,” said Phyo and Trudy. “We want our community to be able to receive care in our local hospital. Focusing on beds for the new hospital will ensure the comfort of patients getting treatment, as well as making it easier for the medical staff to provide the care.”

The two are well known in the community for their commitment to local causes. Active volunteers with the Rotary Club of Wellington, they are also avid curlers who have participated in the Curl-A-Thon in support of the Back the Build campaign. Over the years, they have attended numerous Foundation events, including community updates, Uncork Canada, and the PECMH Foundation golf tournament, demonstrating ongoing commitment to the future of healthcare in Prince Edward County.

Their latest gift marks six donations over the past 10 years, underscoring a decade of support for local hospital care.

“We are incredibly grateful to Phyo and Trudy for their generosity and leadership,” said Shannon Coull, PECMH Foundation executive director. “Their support — especially during a matching campaign — inspires others and helps us move closer to opening a hospital that meets the needs of our growing community.”

The Foundation is working to replace 24 hospital beds, at an approximate cost of $22,000 per bed, to ensure the new hospital opens fully equipped.

Carmen Kilroy and family

Thanks to the generosity of Carmen Kilroy and her family, donations made toward new SMART hospital beds will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $50,000.

Since purchasing a home in Prince Edward County in 2016, Carmen and her family have been inspired by the community’s strong spirit of collaboration and generosity.

“What impresses us most is the local spirit of collaboration,” Carmen shares. “Building a new hospital is a tremendous achievement for a community that truly deserves it.”

Carmen’s commitment to supporting hospital care is deeply personal. After six weeks of hospitalized bedrest related to a pregnancy in 2009, followed by an acute and very serious illness in 2014, she understands first-hand how hospital design, comfort, and safety can play a critical role in recovery.

Alongside their recent gift of a life-saving ventilator, Carmen and her family are now encouraging the community to help ensure the new hospital opens with leading-edge equipment from day one — including smart beds.

“These beds will be used every single day by patients in our community,” added Coull. “They support healing, safety, and dignity, while also making a meaningful difference for the healthcare professionals who care for our patients. This matching gift is a powerful opportunity for donors to have an immediate and lasting impact.”

Medical equipment, such as hospital beds, is not funded by the government. It is only through the generosity of donors that the PECMH Foundation can provide essential equipment.

A gift of $50 becomes $100.
A gift of $250 becomes $500.
A gift of $1,000 becomes $2,000 — directly supporting patient comfort, dignity, and healing when it matters most.

“I hope this inspires others to give generously,” Carmen says, “and help bring life-saving technology and comfort to this community.”

The matching campaign runs to March 31. To make a matched gift before the deadline, click here.