The fundraising team for Prince Edward County’s new hospital continues to express gratitude to donors who remain committed to building a new home for Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation board and members of the Back the Build campaign cabinet graciously accepted a grant totaling $750,000 from the John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation.

“Building a new hospital is extremely involved and dynamic. There are so many moving parts that are all necessary so the project continues to move forward. Every time our community learns something new is another step toward the hospital’s completion. The community’s confidence and continued support in this project is one of the critical parts to ensuring our new hospital becomes a reality,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This incredible donation from the Parrott Foundation is so appreciated during these challenging times. Not only will it help us to maintain momentum, it also helps to make us feel connected to our donor family.”

The Parrott Foundation’s grant has helped the PECMH Foundation to reach a $15.7M milestone toward the $16.5M goal. Foundation representatives and members of the Campaign Cabinet gathered with Lyle Vanclief, Linda Gray and Donna Gowthorpe from the Parrott Foundation to update the fundraising thermometer on the current hospital to reflect the new fundraising milestone.

Founded in 1977, the Parrott Foundation supports organizations across the Quinte region. Jack and Bernice Parrott had deep roots in the Belleville community for many years. They spent their time growing crops and tending to a herd of Holstein cattle. Eventually, the couple developed their farm land, turning it into subdivisions in the east end of Belleville. Their gift to the new hospital campaign will name the family suite in the new hospital.

“The Parrott Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of Quinte. Investing in organizations that focus on healthcare helps to advance our mission, said Lyle Vanclief, president of the John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation. “Without your health, it is impossible to have a quality of life. The new hospital in Prince Edward County is our way of ensuring that the people of Quinte and surrounding area, now and in the future, have access to the care they need, when they need it.”

John and Bernice were known to be generous during their lifetimes, and their philanthropy has achieved so much more through their charitable gifts given throughout the region through the Parrott Foundation. They have helped countless organizations succeed and have made great strides towards making the Quinte community a better place to live.

“We truly appreciate the generous support of the Parrott Foundation,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chair. “This donation will name the family suite in the new hospital. This donation helps support the success of the fundraising effort to help the PECMH Foundation achieve its goal to get this new hospital built. The naming of the family suite that is part of the inpatient unit is a wonderful way to honour the memory of John and Bernice Parrott.”

The John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation Family Suite will be a very special and unique space as it is the only area in the new hospital that will offer respite to families who are spending time with a loved one who is seriously ill. This suite, which will be located in the inpatient unit, will be fully furnished with a bedroom, shower and sitting area.

QHC PECMH’s Patient Care Lead, Janice Deal, RN, shared how important it is to the patients to have their family members close by during a hospital stay.

“Families of patients want to be close to their loved ones, but also need a place to rest, eat, shower and decompress. Having access to the family suite relieves the difficulty of having to find or pay for a place to stay if a patient’s family comes from out of town. The family suite is a private place for families to gather, reminisce on memories and connect as a family during a very difficult time,” she said.

This suite will be a place for family members to have privacy while staying on-site and remaining close to their loved one while they are cared for in our hospital.

“Back in 2005, our family utilized that space and it was overwhelmingly appreciated & helpful to have a spot to gather as a family, be able to support one another, take shifts in being with our loved one. It was a space you felt safe, you could cry, share stories and the fond memories we cherish today.  Whether your family is large or small, having that space to allow people to come together, get away for a small break but not be far when the end arrives, is truly a gracious gift,” said Lisa Mowbray, manager of patient services at QHC PECMH.

With the Parrott Foundation grant, the Back the Build campaign has $800,000 left to raise toward its campaign goal of $16.5M. For more information on the project, please visit www.backthebuild.ca.

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.