The caring nature of a Prince Edward County couple was in the spotlight on Tuesday.

 The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation received an early holiday present of $10,000 from Herb and Kathy Pliwischkies of Picton. Their gift adds to the momentum of the foundation’s Back the Build Campaign for a new hospital.

Pliwischkies, who recently lost his mother Margarete in November, wanted to honour the memory of his mother and father with this donation. Herb. Sr. passed away in 2010.

“My wife Kathy and I decided we would do something worthwhile in memory of my parents,” said Herb Pliwischkies. “The physicians and medical staff here at the County hospital have given their service to us… so we decided it was a good idea to give back to ensure there is always a hospital in Prince Edward County.”

Receiving this special memorial donation was Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Executive Director, Shannon Coull. “Herb and Kathy have sponsored our golf tournament we host in partnership with RE/MAX Quinte for several years in addition to giving annually. Our entire community will benefit from Herb and Kathy’s continued generosity towards our new hospital.”

“As a regional business, RE/MAX Quinte is invested in Prince Edward County’s continued prosperity. Part of looking out for our region’s future is helping support the thousands of local families and visitors who come to Prince Edward County so they can have access to medical care close to home,” Pliwischkies added. “This is a time to step up and do what we can to help get this new hospital built, which is why Kathy and I are honoured to be making this personal contribution today.”

Immigrating from Germany, Herbert Pliwischkies Sr. came to Canada in 1951 and Margarete followed in 1952. Picton became the homestead in 1965 where Herb Sr. was a well respected teacher. Margarete assisted as an audio visual technician at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute. Upon retirement their next adventure took them to Nokomis, Florida where they wintered for 17 years. This was followed by extensive travels in their golden years. The Pliwischkies’ were loving, devoted parents to their children, Christa, Monika, Herb Jr. and the late Carol.

“My parents would be honoured to know they were an inspiration by our donation on their behalf,” Pliwischkies said.

“Herb and Kathy are an outstanding example of the community spirit we see in the County. On behalf of the entire hospital, its staff and patients, I want to thank the Pliwischkies for their generosity,” said Coull. “The foundation and Back the Build team is grateful for this very generous donation. Remembering loved ones in a manner that will help other people carries a special significance to it.”

“We want to sincerely thank the Pliwischkies family for keeping our new hospital in their hearts this holiday season and for standing with us as we work towards building the new hospital,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chair. “Herb and Kathy’s investment in this build makes a huge difference in the lives of every person in this community. We are amazed by how much local families, like the Pliwischkies’, are doing to help.”