This February, as Valentine’s Day reminds us of what we love most, we invite you to show your love for Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) and double your impact.
Thanks to the generosity of donor Carmen Kilroy and her family, every donation made toward new SMART hospital beds will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $50,000. The matching campaign will help equip the new PECMH with state-of-the-art beds designed to enhance patient comfort, dignity, and safety.
A gift rooted in love for community and care
Since purchasing a home in Prince Edward County in 2016, Carmen and her family have been inspired by the community’s strong spirit of collaboration and generosity.
“What impresses us most is the local spirit of collaboration,” Carmen shares.
“Building a new hospital is a tremendous achievement for a community that truly deserves it.”
Carmen’s commitment to supporting hospital care is deeply personal. After six weeks of hospitalized bedrest related to a pregnancy in 2009, followed by an acute and very serious illness in 2014, she understands firsthand how hospital design, comfort, and safety can play a critical role in recovery.
Alongside their recent gift of a life-saving ventilator, Carmen and her family are now encouraging the community to help ensure the new hospital opens with leading-edge equipment from day one — including SMART beds.
“Until March 31, 2026, I’m matching every donation, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000,” Carmen says.
“To help the hospital open with as many new SMART beds as possible to provide state-of-the-art comfort to the sickest patients.”
Why SMART beds matter
Last year alone, 850 patients stayed overnight at PECMH, many during serious medical emergencies. For these patients, a hospital bed is far more than furniture, it is an essential component of healing. SMART beds are designed to support both patient recovery and safety. Fully adjustable electronic controls help patients reposition independently and reduce the risk of falls, while specialized mattresses improve comfort, support higher weight capacities, and help prevent pressure injuries.
Enhanced surface materials support infection prevention, while improved maneuverability helps staff deliver safer, more efficient care. Built-in verbal safety prompts and features such as USB charging add reassurance, comfort, and dignity throughout a patient’s stay.
“These beds will be used every single day by patients in our community,” says Shannon Coull, Executive Director of the PECMH Foundation.
“They support healing, safety, and dignity, while also making a meaningful difference for the healthcare professionals who care for our patients. This matching gift is a powerful opportunity for donors to have an immediate and lasting impact.”
Community support makes the difference
Medical equipment, such as hospital beds, are not funded by the government. It is only through the generosity of donors that the PECMH Foundation can provide this essential equipment.
The Foundation is working to replace 24 hospital beds at approximately $22,000 per bed. Thanks to the matching gift, donations made during this campaign will have twice the impact, up to $50,000.
This Valentine’s Day, love your hospital back
A gift of $50 becomes $100.
A gift of $250 becomes $500.
A gift of $1,000 becomes $2,000 — directly supporting patient comfort, dignity, and healing when it matters most.
A gift of $250 becomes $500.
A gift of $1,000 becomes $2,000 — directly supporting patient comfort, dignity, and healing when it matters most.
“I hope this inspires others to give generously,” Carmen says,
“And help bring life-saving technology and comfort to this community.”
Donations made before the matching deadline will help ensure the new PECMH opens with the equipment patients deserve — close to home, when they need it most. Donate today at www.pecmhf.ca.
PECMHF’s Back the Build campaign is raising $30M in support of Quinte Health to help build and equip a new hospital to serve residents and visitors in Prince Edward County. For more information and to lend your support, visit www.pecmhf.ca/back-the-build.
