A local couple is encouraging the community to donate to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation by helping donors double the impact of their donations to the foundation’s COVID-19 response fund.
David and Patricia Morton will be matching the community’s donations to the fund by providing a gift of up to $50,000.
“We believe there’s never been a more important time to support our hospital,” David says. “Our hope is that our gift will encourage others, and as a result our collective philanthropy will go twice as far to support the work of PRHC’s dedicated physicians, nurses. and staff.”
Members of the community who are able to give will have their COVID-19 donations matched dollar for dollar, up to $50,000, to help fund the investments the hospital needs to make provide the best possible care to patients, and to keep the front-line health care workers safe.
“Their courage is simply amazing as they risk their own lives to save others,” Patricia says.
The Mortons are well-known philanthropists in the Peterborough community, having made generous gifts to organizations including Trent University, Peterborough Humane Society, United Way of Peterborough & District, and the Morton Community Healthcare Centre in Lakefield.
David, the former president and CEO of the Quaker Oats company since 1989, retired in 2001 to pursue charitable works, including the establishment of a philanthropic foundation with his wife, Dr. Patricia Morton. Patricia retired from Trent University in 2002 after 26 years of service as a professor.
David currently serves on the board of the PRHC Foundation, and was chair of the foundation’s campaign to build the new hospital. He has also been on the boards of Trent University (including as chair of the board of governors), Fleming College, and Five Counties Children Centre. Patricia has also been very involved with the community as a volunteer on many non-profit boards, including the Morton Community Healthcare Centre. The Mortons were inducted into the Peterborough Pathway of Fame in 2017.
PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway explains that, with the Mortons’ matching gift, the foundation’s goal is to raise $100,000, part of its ongoing efforts to support PRHC’s COVID-19 response.
“On behalf of the hospital and PRHC Foundation, thank you to David and Patricia,” Heighway says. “We hope their generosity will inspire others to join us in supporting the front-line health care providers caring for patients through this crisis. Let’s all stand behind PRHC’s dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff as they face this challenge.”
Donations to the foundation’s COVID-19 response fund will help the hospital acquire additional ventilators, laryngoscopes for emergency intubation, additional ICU beds, provisions and wellness supports for staff who must stay at the hospital while treating patients, and more protective equipment and scrubs to help keep them safe.
Gifts will also support the area of greatest need as determined by the hospital, so that the foundation can quickly fund the most urgent COVID-19 priorities to help care for patients.
For more information about the PRHC Foundation and to make a donation, call 705-876-5000 or visit www.prhcfoundation.ca, where you can also share a message of support with PRHC’s front-line health care workers and staff. Donations will also be accepted by mail care of PRHC Foundation, 1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7C6.
