Message from PECMHF’s Board Chairperson
Every year, we are overjoyed with the outpouring of support and donations from members of our community. Donation revenue has exceeded expectations because of the incredible generosity of donors who live in The County or come as visitors. This, coupled with significant investment gains and under-budget expenses, indicates a positive financial outcome for 2023-24.
While we were waiting for the contractor for the new hospital to be chosen, the Foundation staff continued raising money for priority medical equipment while stewarding pledges and gifts for Back the Build. The Municipality, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, businesses, foundations, service groups, faith based groups and individual donors have all answered the call to Back the Build.
We know the importance of a well-equipped hospital ready to meet the escalating demands of care and treatment for its patients. The government does not fund medical equipment, but we are fortunate to have donors within our community who have consistently provided the necessary financial support, regardless of the financial climate, to ensure that our hospital’s Care Champions are equipped to provide care of the highest standard.
Now that the contract has been finalized for the chosen provider, M. Sullivan and Son, we know that the demand for funding will be as great as in the previous decade. We are incredibly proud of our Foundation’s strong fiscal management. Our fundraising continues to support the equipment needs identified by Quinte Health (seven pieces of equipment) and the renovation to host new radiography equipment. In addition, funds were transferred to Quinte Health for the new clinical transformation and electronic medical records (Lumeo), which went live in December 2024. And the Foundation staff have accomplished these feats while maintaining a low cost to raise a dollar.
Our Board and Campaign Cabinet members are accomplished business, healthcare and community leaders. They provide governance and counsel throughout the year to advance our shared mission. Heartfelt thanks to these esteemed volunteers for all their time, talent and generous donations. Thank you to our outgoing chairperson, Barbara McConnell, for her inspired leadership that allowed us to chart a bold course for the future.
I want to extend special recognition to staff Shannon Coull, Briar Boyce and Tanya Moore for their dedication and commitment to our hospital. Although their primary mission is fundraising, they greatly support the board of directors in fulfilling its governance role.
Lastly, I would like to thank the donors for believing in our work and for the trust you have placed in us. Your support is critical in ensuring our hospital’s Care Champions have the resources they need to deliver the
quality care PECMH is known for.
Yours sincerely,
Peggy Payne
Message from PECMHF’s
Back the Build Campaign Chairperson
Our volunteer Campaign Cabinet is a diverse group, with members from across our County, each bringing unique backgrounds, experiences, sense of humours and skills. We are united by our passion for our community and advocating and working for quality healthcare close to home.
We had an exciting year coming out of the pandemic. We can now meet with our donors face-to-face and celebrate our community group's achievements and events in person.
THANK YOU for all your support, direct personal donations, third-party fundraising events, donations of birthday monies, gifts at the Metro grocery till, the dedicated Wellington Rotary volunteers who work at their bottle depot, and all the creative and unique ideas from our remarkable community that supports "Back the Build."
This year, we were waiting, at times impatiently, to speak about what a remarkable hospital we are building, the first hospital of its kind in North America, but as I write this report, we now have the go-ahead to do so. We are so excited to be able to share these details with our community.
Our vision for the upcoming year is to continue fundraising for major medical equipment, including a new CT scanner, environmental sustainability enhancements, and a state-of-the-art green energy facility.
To date, our community has gifted this campaign with $23M. With ongoing support from our community, I am confident we will reach our goal of $30M and top the thermometer before the hospital is completed sometime in 2027.
As a Cabinet of volunteers, we are privileged to be part of such a unique and wonderful community. Our neighbours, friends, family, businesses and community supporters have consistently demonstrated the remarkable spirit of our community.
Can you help us reach our goal? Give us a call. We’d love to chat! Nancy Parks
Fiscal Year in Review
April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024
Last year, our incredible donor family helped the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) raise $4.2 million! Healthcare in Prince Edward County has benefited directly from the generosity that has proven to be a fundamental part of this community.
These gifts helped PECMHF reach its target for purchasing medical equipment, move closer to building a new hospital for Prince Edward County and support better care across the region.
Donor support is crucial because the government does not pay for medical devices. Of the $4.2 million raised, over $700,000 was designated for cuttingedge equipment such as a new transport ventilator, a cardiac monitor and a vein finder.
Over $1,117,000 was received through donors leaving a gift in their will. Last year, PECMHF received bequests from the Estates of Wynne Thomas, John and Geraldine Della Bosca, Phyllis Clasby, Anna
and Leslie Tait, and Robert Hintz. We are genuinely grateful if you have remembered PECMHF with a gift in your will.
What’s more, our donors helped support the Intensive Care Unit renovations at Belleville General Hospital and contributed to Lumeo, the Regional Health Information System (RHIS) initiative underway that compiles patients’ records electronically so they’re readily accessible to healthcare applications across six eastern Ontario hospitals. To learn more, visit https://lumeorhis.ca/.
Thank you for partnering with us to support exceptional care across the region. Every gift we receive makes a difference and helps to keep care close to home.
Representatives of the PECMH Foundation are pictured with PECMH Auxiliary volunteers to announce the results of the 2023 Festival of Trees
Looking back on another successful year, we proudly share highlights from our 2023/2024 fiscal year.
• Members and staff of Wellings of Picton surpassed $50,000 in cumulative giving to the foundation over the past eight years.
• The PECMH Auxiliary raised $50K through the Festival of Trees. In addition to funding several pieces of equipment, they launched a 1:1 matching gift initiative for the new hospital campaign.
• ANDARA Gallery’s Holiday Photo in the Barn raised $6,700 for Back the Build, bringing its four-year total to $30,000… Over 2,500 photos have been taken to date!
• RE/MAX Quinte Ltd. raised over $52,000 for the new hospital through the Teeing Up Fore Health Care Golf Classic.
• The Rotary Club of Picton fulfilled its $100,000 pledge to Back the Build.
• The Prince Edward Curling Club Backed the Build raising $57,022 from their second annual 24-hour Curl-a-Thon.
• Thank you to the 2,169 donors who made 4,407 donations in 2023/2024. Individuals, families, foundations, municipalities, and businesses came together last year to raise over $4.2 million for equipment and help move the new hospital forward.
Whenever there is a need, our donors respond generously and thoughtfully. Your incredible contributions continue to advance healthcare for the people of Prince Edward County and the patients of our hospital.
ummary of Financials
The information presented refers to activity within the fiscal year, April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024
PECMHF is committed to the highest standards of accountability and transparency. To view the audited financial statements, visit https://www.pecmhf.ca/our-accountability.
Your Dollars At Work
RECEIVED FOR BACK THE BUILD (NEW HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN)
We are proud to share that based on a five-year average cost to raise a dollar, 0.88 cents of every dollar is supporting the hospital’s highest needs, with 0.12 cents supporting our fundraising and operations.
Quinte Health supports us by providing office space, computer and phone services at no cost.
Thanks to your donations, the following items are serving patients at PECMH:
• Vital Signs Monitors
• Digital X-Ray Machine
• Borescope
• Transport Ventilator
• Vein Finder
Thank you to the Royal Canadian Legion for funding a vein finder for the Emergency Department.
• Slit Lamp • Tono-pen • Trophon • Veriscan
ack the Build Update
After a decade of planning, the dream for a new PECM Hospital came closer to reality on August 1, when the ground was broken. Joined by our project partners and 100 guests, it was a momentous day that launched construction to bring a brand-new, 96K-sqft state-of-the-art hospital to Prince Edward County.
This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the tremendous support of the community. Under the volunteer leadership of Campaign Cabinet Chairperson Nancy Parks and her team of volunteers, more than $23M has been raised towards the $30M goal. Thank you to everyone who has Backed the Build!
PECMHF is raising funds to help purchase the major medical equipment needed for the new hospital. This includes a CT Scanner for the first time in our hospital’s history. Donors are also helping us incorporate environmental sustainability and innovative technology into the design. By including design features that focus on the health and well-being of hospital users, including staff and physicians, the new PECMH will offer a more positive workplace, which will help attract and retain healthcare professionals.
The new hospital will be an incredible example of what small communities need in a local hospital. Constructed from mass timber, the services will include a 24/7 emergency department, diagnostic imaging including a CT Scanner, 23 inpatient beds and ambulatory, laboratory and dialysis services.
With shovels in the ground and the team with M. Sullivan and Son bringing our new hospital to life, we’re creating something special for this growing community. Soon, a strong, sustainable hospital that will meet the needs of our community will be here to care for our patients.
If you have been waiting to invest in this project, now is your opportunity to get involved. Visit www.pecmhf.ca to learn more about how you can support the build and be part of this next chapter in our County’s history.
St. Mary Magdalene Members of the St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church in Picton and Organist Murray Baer Back the Build
eet our Campaign Cabinet
The Foundation thanks the dedicated volunteers of our Campaign Cabinet whose leadership has been vital to the success of our Back the Build campaign since 2019. These volunteers took on the responsibility of helping to secure transformational gifts that have created the critical momentum to raise our local share for the new hospital. We are so proud of the impact this group of champions make, which will leave a lasting impression on healthcare for decades to come.
CURRENT CABINET MEMBERS:
Nancy Parks, Chairperson
Tim Casgrain
Dennis Darby
Lisa Lindsay
Gottfried Boehringer
Sally Cowan
Leo Finnegan
Ernie Margetson
Don Rodney Shannon Coull, ex officio
Richard Byers
Elizabeth Crombie
Bill Kaplan
Paul Massey
Thank you to the following volunteers who were integral during the various stages of our campaign.
Peter Brady served 2022-2024
Melanie Fida served 2020-2022
Geri Claxton served 2019-2020
Peggy Payne served 2019
onthly
Jim Dunlop served 2019-2024
Giving
Small gifts make a big impact. In 2023/24, $90,648 was raised by 150 Members.
Our Monthly Giving Club is a growing group of compassionate individuals and businesses that provide steady, ongoing funds to the PECMH Foundation.
This community helps equip the hospital with the best tools to diagnose and treat patients. Monthly gifts allow us to plan and allocate resources where they are needed most while allowing our donors to choose the level of support that works for them.
In 2023/24, monthly donations ranged from $7.00 to over $150, averaging $55 per month per member.
We aim to continue building momentum with this group and increase awareness of the benefits of providing consistent and reliable funding.
While we work to maintain our high standards of care at PECMH today, we are behind the scenes, working with Quinte Health’s leadership team to create a leading-edge facility designed for the needs of our community. Stay up to date on all the latest news by visiting www.pecmhf.ca.
he County Guys Local Love Bursary Program
PECMHF, in partnership with The County Guys Real Estate Group, launched a bursary for Quinte Health employees pursuing education that will benefit health care, who are motivated to help and heal others and who are passionate about nurturing a healthy quality of life in Prince Edward County.
It awards an annual bursary of up to $2,500 for staff at our hospital to access learning opportunities or upgrade skills and professional designations.
This year’s recipient was Mikayla WilliamsMills, a Registered Practical Nurse in both the Inpatient and Emergency departments. Mikayla is completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) at Nipissing University while working at our hospital. Mikayla is on track to graduate with her degree in 2027 and is committed to continuing her nursing career at our County hospital to serve our local community.
“I am honoured to receive the first County Guys Local Love Bursary! This bursary will assist me financially in continuing my education and pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Receiving this bursary will help take some financial burden off my shoulders as I continue to serve our rural community and vulnerable populationwhileexpandingmyeducation,criticalthinkingandskills,” said Mikayla.
This bursary will provide opportunities for our Care Champions to reach their full potential while helping us maintain an excellent healthcare system in Prince Edward County. The best part is that anyone working at our hospital, regardless of position, can apply.
are by the Numbers
Last year, patients were treated at Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) 46,500 times.
Thanks to our donors, our dedicated Care Champions have access to the tools they need to provide care for you and your loved ones. Here’s a snapshot of how PECMH was used last year.
• Emergency visits – 22,974
• Inpatient stays – 922
• Endoscopy screenings – 2,100
• Diagnostic Imaging services – 13,365
• Ambulatory visits – 7,139
• Total number of visits – 46,500
WorkinginpartnershipwithQuinteHealthtoCreateHealthierCommunities,Together.
alsall Family of Waupoos Back the Build
Healthcare touches us all in different ways, and it takes special people in the community to ensure our hospital’s Care Champions deliver the best care possible every day.
The desire to inspire others and help ensure access to care close to home motivated a $150,000 gift from the Halsall family of Waupoos. The gift will help build and equip the new PECMH with environmental sustainability enhancements.
Joan and Dexter Halsall moved to Prince Edward County in 2017 from Oakville after retiring from careers in financial services. They were married in 2018 at Waupoos Estates Winery, down the road from their home. They have been active volunteers with some of the sports clubs in The County since they arrived.
“JoanandIhaveneededtousethehospitalovertheyears.TheCareChampionsworkingatPECMHare always supportive and caring. Helping the doctors, nurses and technologists acquire new equipment andmoveintoamoremodernhospitalwillhelpthemdeliverthebestcarepossibletothecommunity,” said Dexter.
EC Farm Family Digs In to Back the Build
Robert (Bob) Hunter and his wife Barbara, who own and operate PEC Farms in Wellington, were looking for a way to give back to their community. They decided the best way to do that was to invest in the future of our County hospital by donating $50,000 to PECMHF’s Back the Build campaign. Their gift was matched 1:1 by the PECMH Auxiliary.
“Lastyear(2023),wehadthebestcropyieldssincemovingtoThe Countyin2004.BarbaraandIwantedtoshareourgratitudeover such a great harvest and couldn’t think of a better way to do so thantodonatetoacausebenefittingall…buildinganewhospital.”
The Hunters can’t wait to see our hospital’s Care Champions acquire new equipment and move into a more modern facility to help them deliver the best care possible to the community.
This story is in loving memory of Robert Hunter, who passed away on November 10, 2024.
icton Fair Bake Off Challenge
For the past 15 years, the Prince Edward Agricultural Society has supported our County hospital by putting their auction skills to the test.
The Picton Fair Bake Off Challenge is an opportunity for businesses or individuals to practice their culinary skills by having their entries judged by local celebrities and then auctioning their dessert to raise funds to support the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF).
Each year, entries are submitted and judged by volunteers, including Ken Menlove, a local lawyer, Jenn McKay with Cool 100, Jordan Smart with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Auxiliary Unit, and Mike Roy, a community member. Ken Tulloch is our volunteer auctioneer.
“We could not achieve our goal of building a new, well-equipped hospitalforthepeopleofPrinceEdwardCountywithoutsupportfrom the community,” said Shannon Coull, PECMHF’s executive director. “We are honoured to have the continued support of the hard-working volunteers with the Fair Board and those who bake and bid on these delectabledesserts.TheAgriculturalSocietyhasinvestedinhealthcare inourcommunityfor15years.”
The Agricultural Society thanks all the generous people who donate baked goods or participate in the auction. As medical care advances, the Picton Fair Board is committed to keeping our hospital wellequipped for you, your loved ones and everyone in our community.
“We are grateful to everyone who attends the fair, whether they ride the midway, enter an item as an exhibit or as a vendor, participate in theBakeOfforvolunteerwithus,” said Susan Harrington, president of the Picton Fair Board. “We are thrilled to support our County hospital and thank everyone who bakes, bids or volunteers to make the Bake Offhappen.”
The Agricultural Society has raised nearly $50,000 for PECMHF through the Bake Off Challenge. PECMHF is proud of its longstanding partnership with the Agricultural Society and hopes to see everyone at next year’s Picton Fair!
Board; Tina Hiddink, treasurer for the Picton Fair and Sandra Foreman, a director on the PECMHF Board.
Stacey Daub, Quinte Health’s President and CEO, poses with Barb Fowler, a team member in the dietary department at PECMH who baked a first-place carrot cake.
Pictured in front of the Crystal Palace at the Picton Fairgrounds from left: Ann Galvin, a director on the PECMHF Board; Florence Aman, first vice president of the Picton Fair Board; Nancy Parks, chairperson of the Back the Build campaign; Susie Harrington, president of the Picton Fair
Peggy Payne, Chairperson
Barbara McConnell, Interim Vice Chairperson and Past Chairperson
David Griffith, Treasurer Sherry Tait, Secretary
Jeff DiBattista Sandra Foreman
Ann Galvin Dr. Andrew Janikowski
Mohamed Khimji Dr. Cliff Rice
Wendy Reid
Susan Quaiff, PECMH Auxiliary Representative