PICTON, November 2, 2022 – Starting today, all new gifts to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) to help purchase medical equipment will have double the impact.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has generously offered to make a 1:1 match on all gifts donated by the community for medical equipment needed at the County hospital, up to a total of $150,000. This matching gift initiative means that new donations received will be automatically doubled! For every dollar raised, the auxiliary will donate a matching amount from now until January 31, 2023.

“We’re delighted and incredibly grateful for the generosity that has just come forward. Community support is instrumental in advancing health care at our hospital,” said Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the PECMH Foundation. “Having access to a well-functioning hospital nearby is a benefit of living in this community. The auxiliary’s matching donation will have a tremendous impact on the thousands of people who turn to our hospital every year for high-quality medical care and x-ray services. We thank the Auxiliary and the community for their on-going, incredible support!”

Contributions made through this matching gift campaign will ensure Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) has access to leading edge medical devices.

One of the equipment items this matching initiative will help purchase is a new x-ray machine. The foundation is raising $595,000 to purchase this machine. The diagnostic imaging device will be used in the current hospital and will transition into Prince Edward County’s new hospital in 2027.

At PECMH, the x-ray machine is used daily. The team of radiologists and Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) rely on the current x-ray machine to perform over 8,800 exams each year.

“After more than 14 years and over 120,000 pictures, the current x-ray machine is showing signs of aging and must be replaced. Digital imaging equipment has seen great advances in recent years, and we want to see our hospital stay on top of that technology. The hospital staff also don’t want to have to send our patients to another facility if our equipment breaks down,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation.

X-rays are critical devices that help radiologists, family doctors, orthopaedic and general surgeons. The device allows medical professionals to look into patients’ bodies to determine the cause of an injury, an illness, or to confirm a diagnosis, like cancer or heart issues.

“Making an impact that is meaningful to Prince Edward County residents and visitors is what encouraged the Auxiliary board of directors to make this 1:1 matching donation to help purchase the x-ray machine,” said Cathy Starkey, president of the PECMH Auxiliary. “The Auxiliary is excited to partner with the foundation and support equipment needs for this year. We are deeply committed to providing exceptional health care for the hospital, staff, and our community.”

“Members of our community continue to look for unique ways to support our hospital in meaningful and creative ways. It is exceptional and inspiring,” said Coull. “We are so grateful for the Auxiliary’s generous commitment of a 1:1 matching donation. This gift serves as a reminder of how community-minded we are in Prince Edward County, working together to keep our hospital well equipped and guarantee that healthcare services are available to those who need it for many years to come.”

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 x-ray machine.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.

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Pictured at the Second Time Around Shop back row from left: Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson; Cathy Starkey, PECMH Auxiliary president; Sally Cowan, Back the Build campaign cabinet member; Auxiliary volunteers Charlotte Harrott; Jennie Kenny; Ken Kish; Kim Harrington; Beth McConnell; Janet Daubney and Barbara McConnell, PECMHF chairperson. Seated at front from left: Auxiliary Volunteers Eugenia Venchiarutti; Sally Margueratt; Pam Strachan, manager of the Second Time Around Shop; Pauline Smith and Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation.