Hospice Quinte staff, board members and volunteers were joined by local dignitaries, friends and other significant supporters yesterday to celebrate milestones reached to date with respect to the future Hospice Quinte Care Centre and to kick-off the official community phase of the organization’s Heart & Home Building Campaign.
The socially distanced gathering held outdoors at Occasions By The Bay, began by announcing that Hospice Quinte has now reached 65% of the funding necessary to meet its $9.5M fundraising goal. Hospice Quinte also introduced a new slogan for the campaign – “Make It Happen” – a community call for support to those living in the region to contribute what they can to help Hospice Quinte raise the remaining $3,325,000 needed to successfully complete the Heart & Home Building Campaign.
“Standing here today, surrounded by a number of key contributors, I am filled with joy and gratitude knowing that we are well on our way to meeting the critical need for around-the-clock hospice palliative care locally,” says Hospice Quinte Executive Director, Jennifer May-Anderson. “We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for so many thoughtful, caring individuals, governments and businesses.”
“And now it’s time to ramp-up our fundraising efforts by extending the call for action to the greater Quinte community…a call to join us in the quest for a world-class Hospice Care Centre right here in our own backyard,” adds May-Anderson. “Put simply, we need you, the public, to help Make It Happen.”
Local dignitaries, including the offices of MPP Todd Smith and MPP Daryl Kramp, Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, and Tyendinaga Township Reeve Rick Philips, shared comments of support regarding the many benefits that the future Hospice Quinte Care Centre, a state-of-the-art facility, will provide to those in need throughout the greater Quinte region.
Hospice Quinte was also delighted to receive support from a number of caring donors yesterday including a $20K gift presented by Paul Moran Insurance Group in conjunction with The Co-operators Advisor Community Fund, a $100K donation made by Paul and Beth Moorman of Culligan Belleville in memory of their father Ronald Moorman, and a gift of $30K from Audrey Williams on behalf of the family, and in loving memory of her son and former Heart & Home Building Campaign Co-Chair John Williams. This brings collective contributions by the Williams Family, including donations made in honour of the late Mayor of Quinte West, to a total of $184,000!
Highlighting the afternoon, was a formal cheque presentation by Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, who presented Hospice Quinte with a cheque for $1,065,395 on behalf of the City of Quinte West. The City had generously pledged $1M at the beginning of the project, which was invested until the official groundbreaking of the Centre earlier this month. The interest earned on the $1M investment, totaling $65,395 was also donated in support of the Hospice Quinte Care Centre project.
“The City of Quinte West is honoured to support this project as we recognize the need for a residential hospice in our area and we commend Hospice Quinte in providing compassionate care, supports and services to our region,” says Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison. “As they begin the next phase of their fundraising campaign, we encourage our community to help Make It Happen.”
To learn more about the Hospice Quinte Care Centre and how you can help ‘Make It Happen’ please visit HospiceQuinte.ca/hcc-home
