A local couple is giving back to local healthcare in a huge way.
Belleville General Hospital Foundation announced a $1 million investment from Wayne and Wendy Sheppard on Thursday.
The Wayne and Wendy Sheppard Endowment for Exceptional Care will provide ongoing annual support for priority equipment and capital needs at Belleville General Hospital.
The announcement comes as Wayne Sheppard concludes his term as Chair of the Belleville General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.
“My time as Chair gave me a front-row seat to both the extraordinary care our teams deliver every day, and the growing needs facing healthcare,” said Wayne. “It reinforced my belief that if we want exceptional care close to home, we all have a role to play in supporting it. Wendy and I hope this gift will help give hospital staff the resources they need to provide the very best care, for years to come.”
The gift was announced by incoming BGHF Chair, Lorne McDougall, after the BGHF’s AGM on Thursday evening.
“Every leader leaves their mark, and Wayne’s will be a lasting one,” stated McDougall. “It’s been a privilege to work with Wayne, and I’m proud to step into this role inspired by the extraordinary example he’s set through this gift.”
“At Quinte Health, we are fortunate to be part of a community that cares deeply about one another – Wayne and Wendy’s gift is a beautiful example of that spirit,” said Stacey Daub, President and CEO, Quinte Health.
“Through years of leadership and service, and now through this extraordinary act of generosity, they have demonstrated the important role community members play in helping ensure quality care is available close to home. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and for the lasting impact this gift will have on patients and families for generations to come.”
The fund’s first distribution will support the planned expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Quinte Health Belleville General Hospital, helping ensure more premature babies and medically fragile newborns receive specialized care, closer to home.
BGH serves as the centre for maternal, newborn, and paediatric care for families across the region. Last year, 317 babies required NICU care, and 38 newborns were transferred out of the area for specialized treatment.
“In the NICU, our goal is to give every newborn the best possible start in life, while keeping families together during some of their most difficult moments,” said Tracey Giles, Program Director, Perinatal, Paediatrics and Mental Health. “This investment will make it possible for more families to be at their baby’s bedside, go home to other children, or lean on their support system, without travelling long distances.”
“At the end of the day, this isn’t about us,” concluded Wayne. “It’s about ensuring families in our region have access to outstanding healthcare today and in the future.
