Back the Build

The commitment of a local service club to the construction of Prince Edward County’s new hospital can be summed up in three words.

Service Above Self

Service Above Self is not just a motto; it is a day-to-day practice of Rotarians. It speaks to supporting and caring for those in need, enhancing lives, and enriching relationships with others.

The Rotary Club of Picton has exemplified just what Service Above Self means to their members with an announcement of a $100,000 pledge to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Back the Build campaign to build a new hospital in the County.

“Picton Rotary’s philanthropic support of the hospital is both longstanding and unwavering,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This pledge follows more than 19 years of generous donations from the membership. They have contributed over $135,000 which has helped fund important projects such as the construction of the dialysis unit in 2002. They have also helped support priority equipment purchases like the digital mammography machine with proceeds from their annual golf tournament. Picton Rotary’s generosity has enabled the hospital to make great strides in improving healthcare for patients. Their commitment to help Back the Build for a new hospital reinforces the club’s legacy of supporting the hospital, and for that we are so grateful.”

Representatives from Picton Rotary took the opportunity to present members of the PECMHF team with their first pledge installment of $20,000. A room in the new QHC Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be named in recognition of Picton Rotary’s generous support.

Picton Rotary’s first pledge installment was raised through the 2021 cash calendar sales sold last November and December. 2020 was a record-breaking year for calendar sales.

“Rotarians sold 1,580 calendars at various distribution locations throughout Picton including W.H. Williamson Insurance, Sobey’s, Printcraft, Picton Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, Bailey’s Casual Dining and County Farm Centre, among others. We thank our local retail outlets and wish everyone who has purchased a calendar the best of luck. 

“You’re all helping to build our new hospital,” said Grant Reynolds, Rotary cash calendar chairperson.

“We believe a strong community makes a hospital greater, and a great hospital makes a community stronger,” said John Clarke, president of Picton Rotary. “The backbone of our calendar sales has always been through our membership whereby Rotarians and others sell calendars to family and friends. Rotary is proud of the amazing spirit shown by County residents for this initiative.”

The work of the Foundation and Campaign Cabinet would not be possible without our partners in the community and their commitment to making a positive difference, like Picton Rotary has,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign cabinet co-chair. “Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, really does sum up in three words what Rotary, at its core, is all about. I know many of us who purchased cash calendars feel good turning the page each month knowing we are all helping to play a part in getting a new hospital built in Prince Edward County.”

Rotary is a global network of business leaders and professionals who place service to others above self. The Rotary Club of Picton was established on June 7, 1943. They are a vibrant clubof approximately 50 members who are recognized as passionatesupporters of the Prince Edward County community and can be counted on for both charity and volunteering, locally and internationally.  

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to raise money to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.j