Estate gift leaves lasting benefit for four County charities

John Clarke (estate trustee), Barry Davidson (Treasurer, Hospice Prince Edward), Sandra Barnes (Executive Director, Hospice Prince Edward), Dominique Jones (Executive Director, The County Foundation), Seona Halsey (Volunteer, Picton United Church Food Bank), Shannon Coull (Executive Director, PECMHF), Barbara McConnell (Board Chair, PECMHF), Cynthia Pilon (estate trustee)

D. Wynne Thomas is leaving a lasting legacy in Prince Edward County as four charities near and dear to his heart will share close to $2 million.

Wynne Thomas

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF), The County Foundation, Hospice Prince Edward and the Picton United Church (PUC) Foodbank announced the gift on May 16th, presented by the estate trustees, John Clarke and Cynthia Pilon. Wynne Thomas died in April 2022 in Picton, having lived almost 95 years. He and his wife Barbara had retired to the County in the late 1990s.

“Wynne’s commitment to healthcare in Prince Edward County doesn’t just span the past and present, it extends into the future,” said Shannon Coull, Executive Director for the hospital foundation. “Wynne has played an important role in Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital’s future by leaving a legacy gift to the foundation (PECMHF). This bequest will help to purchase a CT Scanner for the new hospital, bringing this critical service to our hospital for the first time in our County’s history.

“Donors, like Wynne, are ensuring we are not only building a new hospital, we are building a great hospital, potentially the first of its kind in North America. This gift is a reflection of Wynne’s lifelong commitment to community, and the betterment of others. We are enormously grateful for his forethought in including the hospital foundation in his estate plans. His generosity will have a positive impact on the quality of life for people living in or visiting the County for many years to come.”

The County Foundation Executive Director, Dominique Jones agrees.

“The County Foundation is honoured by this bequest. The gift will benefit Prince Edward County for the next few decades as the ‘Wynne Thomas Enterprise Fund’ with annual disbursements to an organization or organizations that addresses a major need in the County. We will turn to Vital Signs data to determine what priorities will best benefit from this funding. Thank you, Wynne, for your continued generosity to this County.”

Sandy Barnes, Executive Director for Hospice Prince Edward added appreciation for the generous gift and all that his philanthropy has fostered within the community.

“Hospice Prince Edward has recently approved a strategic plan that will take under consideration viable options to ensure the future of hospice care remains robust to meet the needs of those living in Prince and Edward County and the surrounding area. This donation will provide the foundation for which these decisions will be made.”

Seona Halsey on behalf of Picton United Church’s Foodbank volunteers commented, that “in these challenging times of rising food and housing costs, the PUC Food Bank is dealing with ever-increasing numbers of people weekly. This donation has come at a very opportune time for us, and it will be put to good use to help meet the needs of our members. We are so very thankful to the estate of Wynne Thomas for this generous and thoughtful donation.”

The generosity of Wynne Thomas will leave a lasting impact on all of these collective charities and will continue to touch many lives over the years in the areas of healthcare, food security and the arts.