The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation announced on Tuesday (May 5) that donations to the organization’s COVID-19 response fund will now be matched up to $190,000, thanks to additional contributions from businesses and community leaders.
Local philanthropists David and Patricia Morton got the ball rolling in April when they helped donors double the impact of their donations to the fund by providing a matching gift of up to $50,000.
“More community leaders and businesses have come forward to join the Mortons with the hopes of inspiring others to stand behind our front-line health care workers as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis,” says PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway. “The additional $140,000 in committed funds brings our matching gift total to an incredible $190,000.”
Heighway says that the new donations were inspired by the dedication of PRHC’s health care professionals, the Mortons’ generosity, and the community’s “incredible response” to the crisis.
The additional $140,000 in matching funds were donated by Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, The Staffing Connection/Level A Professional Group, and the combined support of other anonymous community leaders, Heighway says.
Donations to the PRHC Foundation’s COVID-19 response fund are supporting the hospital’s most urgent pandemic-related priorities. Heighway says gifts made to date are already helping protect front-line workers, prevent the spread of infection, and support vulnerable patients and their families.
“Thanks to the community’s generosity, the foundation was able to immediately fund a crucial supply of additional scrubs for staff and physicians, as well as new plexiglass screening stations now installed throughout the hospital,” Heighway explains.
“We were also able to support PRHC’s new virtual visiting program by funding new iPads and supportive equipment, making it possible for palliative patients to connect with family members and friends who are unable to visit them due to the current restrictions.”
Heighway adds that, while PRHC’s front-line workers and leaders have been preparing to respond to COVID-19 for months, an urgent need still exists for the technology and supplies required to equip, support, and maintain the “extraordinary changes” undertaken at PRHC in a short period of time.
“We’d like to thank the Mortons, Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, The Staffing Connection/Level A Professional Group, our anonymous donors, and everyone who has already donated to the COVID-19 response fund,” she says. “Your generosity is ensuring PRHC’s doctors, nurses and health care support workers can continue to save patients’ lives while protecting their own.”
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.
