Why People Give

January 30, 2023

Why People Give

By Shannon Coull, CFRE

Executive Director of the PECMH Foundation

People give for many different reasons.

 

Studies have shown that giving promotes feelings of happiness. Simply put, helping others feels good. When you donate to a charity that is important to you, you not only help them continue their vital work, you’re also improving your emotional wellbeing.

 

Giving can also connect you to like-minded people who care about the same cause. And, donating to a charity can give you the opportunity to show gratitude. For example, many of our community members have donated to Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Care Champion program which gives grateful patients and families the opportunity to thank a caregiver for the care they provided.

 

Of course there are tax advantages to making a donation, but believe it or not, although this is a benefit to the donor, this is not typically the primary motivation for giving.

 

These are the TOP five reasons why people give to a cause:

 

1.      They believe in the mission,

2.      Donors trust the organization and believe in its leadership,

3.      Donors understand the impact they are making,

4.      They have a personal connection to the cause,

5.      Donors want to be part of something meaningful.

 

I am so very proud to say that the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation can check all of these boxes. We can do this because of the leadership and strong partners with have in place who are helping us to achieve our mission which is to advance healthcare for the patients of our hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.

 

Our Board of Directors is made up of 17 dedicated volunteers who govern the organization and provide focused and steadfast leadership of, and direction for the foundation’s staff.

 

The staff also work with 12 members of our PEC community who form the Campaign Cabinet. This group of volunteers are ambassadors for the Back the Build fundraising campaign. These individuals continue to stay informed on the progress of our new hospital campaign so that they can help us to tell our story and share with our donors the impact they are making.

 

Quinte Health’s leadership team drives the delivery of healthcare across the entire Quinte region. The team keeps our foundation informed as to what is needed to serve our communities. The strong partnership we have with Quinte Health’s leadership team ensures we are fundraising for our community’s highest priorities when it comes to healthcare delivery.

 

A cause our entire community cares about is access to doctors. Our foundation is proud to be one of the members of the leadership team that is helping to address this important issue.

 

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation strives to be an organization that delivers on the top five reasons why people give to a cause which results in long term relationships that are built on trust. Our donors are part of a team that is making a huge impact on the quality of life for the people of Prince Edward County and beyond.

 

Since the beginning of our fiscal-year (April 1, 2022); we have worked with 1952 individual donors, have received over $2.7 million in outright gifts and our Board Chair, Barbara McConnell and I have personally signed 3475 donor thank you letters. 

 

Thank you to our leadership and our community of supporters for being a part of our foundation family; Your impact is meaningful.

 

For information about our hospital, or to make a donation call 613-476-1008 ext. 4507, or visit the foundation’s website at www.pecmhf.ca.


Chestnut Park Picton
March 12, 2026
Chestnut Park Real Estate’s generous $5,000 donation supporting the Back the Build campaign
March 5, 2026
One of Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital’s dedicated Care Champions has been selected as the 2025/2026 recipient of “The County Guys Local Love Bursary.”
trudy phyo gift match
February 6, 2026
Phyo Kyi and Trudy Brown, recent $10,000 donation to the Foundation’s matching gift campaign was doubled to $20,000
Kilroy Family
January 29, 2026
Show your love for PECMH and double your impact today!
Picton Legion Poppy Fund
January 8, 2026
PECMH Foundation is grateful to receive a $10K donation from the Picton Legion Poppy Fund, supporting the campaign to replace an aging digital mammography machine.
Wellington Rotary
December 22, 2025
Wellington Rotary’s Roaring ’20s Fundraiser Strengthens PECM Hospital Foundation with Nearly $7,000 Gift
November 24, 2025
The Rotary Club of Picton has once again demonstrated its long-standing dedication to strengthening local healthcare by presenting a $5,000 donation to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation in support of the Back the Build campaign.  The contribution represents funds raised through several Rotary-led community initiatives, including their annual Rotary Golf Tournament , the Waterfalls Tour , Rotary Cash Calendars and the Lilac Ride . These events continue to play a significant role in ensuring the Foundation meets our $30M Back the Build campaign goal for the new PECMH. For more than 23 years, the Rotary Club of Picton has been a steadfast partner in improving healthcare in PEC—contributing close to $225,000 to date. This includes a generous $100,000 pledge toward Back the Build campaign that was fulfilled in 2023. These funds help to ensure the new hospital is equipped with the modern tools and technology needed to serve patients today and for generations to come. “The Rotary Club of Picton has a deep and enduring commitment to community service, and supporting our hospital is a natural extension of that mission,” said J.J. Johnston, Rotary Club of Picton President. “We are proud to continue contributing to a project that will have a lasting impact on everyone in Prince Edward County.” “We are grateful for Rotary’s leadership, generosity, and community spirit,” said Shannon Coull, Executive Director, PECMH Foundation. “Their ongoing support of this campaign helps ensure our new hospital will provide the high-quality care our community deserves. Rotary truly embodies what it means to give back to the County.” The PECMH Foundation extends its sincere thanks to the Rotary Club of Picton for their support of local healthcare and their thoughtful contribution toward building and equipping the new hospital.
November 21, 2025
PECMH Foundation is celebrating a major milestone in its Back the Build campaign following a generous $600,000 grant from the RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund.
November 20, 2025
Past Chairs Unite at the New Hospital Site to Reflect on Legacy and Celebrate Progress
November 14, 2025
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is proud to announce a generous $10,000 donation from the Rogers family and Keint-he Winery and Vineyards.
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