Hospital auxiliary will double gifts to County’s hospital

Pictured at the hospital auxiliary’s Second Time Around Shop on Main Street Picton are representatives from the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Briar Boyce photo

All new gifts to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s campaign for the new hospital will have double the impact this holiday season.

The hospital auxiliary has stepped forward for the second consecutive year, generously offering to make a 1:1 match on all gifts donated by the community to the Back the Build campaign, up to $100,000.

This matching gift initiative means new donations received will be automatically doubled as the auxiliary will donate a matching amount for every dollar raised until Jan. 31, 2024.

In the fall of 2022, the auxiliary committed to making a 1:1 match for all new donations to PECMHF’s x-ray campaign up to $150,000 meaning the foundation raised over $300,000 through that initiative. The success inspired the auxiliary to come forward again this year with a second match.

“We’re delighted and incredibly grateful. Community support is instrumental in helping us raise the funds for our new hospital,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMH).

“Accessing a leading-edge hospital nearby is a benefit of living in this community, and with the Request for Proposals recently released for the pre-qualified contractors to bid on the project, we are on track to break ground on our new hospital next year. We thank the auxiliary and the community for their incredible support in Backing the Build and making our new County hospital a reality.”

The foundation is raising $27M to help build and equip the new 96k square foot, leading-edge hospital scheduled to open in 2027, with shovels anticipated to go into the ground in summer 2024.

The $27M will 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.

The foundation has raised $20M in pledges and cash toward this goal, leaving approximately $7M to raise.

“Making a meaningful impact on Prince Edward County residents and visitors is what inspired the hospital auxiliary board of directors to make this 1:1 matching donation again this holiday season,” said Susan Quaiff, president of the PECMH Auxiliary. “The auxiliary is excited to partner with the foundation and encourage donations to Back the Build. We are deeply committed to investing in the future of healthcare delivery for the hospital, staff, and community.”

Community members continue to look for unique ways to support the hospital meaningfully and creatively, added Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson.

“We are so grateful for the auxiliary’s generous commitment to a 1:1 matching donation. 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.”

For more information or to double your impact by making a gift, please visit our website at www.pecmhf.ca or call 613-476-1008 ext. 4502. Donations may also be mailed to PECMH Foundation, 403 Main St., Picton, ON K0K 2T0. When making your gift, please indicate it is for the 1:1 match.