Grass Roots and Cowboy Boots raises record $2.5 million for P.E.I.’s Prince County Hospital

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — It takes an incredible effort to boost a record-setting amount of cash for one of many largest hospital fundraisers in Atlantic Canada.

That effort from donors, organizers and attendees was clear throughout the 2022 Grass Roots and Cowboy Boots fundraiser at Credit score Union Place in Summerside, elevating a document $2.5 million in donations and future pledges.

The occasion on Saturday, Sept. 3, featured donations and multi-year pledges from Vogue Optical, Cooke Insurance coverage, the Rotary Membership of Summerside, Cavendish Farms and the PCH Auxiliary in assist of Prince County Hospital.

One nameless donor contributed $1 million to the marketing campaign.

Rick Kennedy, president of the PCH Basis board, mentioned the fundraiser’s success is a testomony to the Prince County neighborhood and generosity from throughout the Island.

“That is actually a neighborhood occasion,” mentioned Kennedy.

“And the neighborhood goes past Summerside. It goes past Prince County…Our hospital serves sufferers from all throughout the Island. A number of our donors usually are not simply from the Summerside neighborhood or Prince County. They arrive from Islandwide, and we recognize each certainly one of them.”

That neighborhood effort contains work completed by many organizations yearly to boost cash to contribute to the occasion.

For 21 years, earlier than the beginning of Grass Roots and Cowboy Boots, the Rotary Membership of Summerside has contributed to the PCH by elevating cash via its annual charity golf match.

Cash raised via the match led to a $15,000 donation from the Rotary Membership at this yr’s fundraiser.

Boyce Murphy, who co-chairs the Rotary Membership’s golf match, mentioned he has attended each Grass Roots and Cowboy Boots fundraiser because it began 14 years in the past.

“To see the expansion of the Grass Roots and Cowboy Boots fundraiser has been nothing wanting a really, very constructive phenomenon,” mentioned Murphy.

“Hospitals are one of many anchors of any neighborhood. Well being care wants proceed to go up, and I do not see that more likely to change.”

Developed and arranged by native businessman Warren Ellis and household, Grass Roots and Cowboy Boots is the most important annual fundraising occasion held for the PCH Basis. It started as a small-scale dinner and has expanded to incorporate a dwell public sale and leisure, rising right into a neighborhood gathering and social occasion.

Since its inception, the occasion has raised round $14 million for medical tools at Prince County Hospital.

Ellis mentioned he was overwhelmed by the generosity of everybody concerned who helped make this yr’s occasion one other success.

“It is unbelievable, the best way the folks of this neighborhood got here collectively and simply embraced this hospital,” mentioned Ellis.

“Tonight was ($2.5 million) — it simply blew the roof off right here.”

Each greenback raised helps the acquisition of medical tools. The hospital’s three ultrasound machines are chief among the many important, life-saving medical tools to get replaced this yr. At $525,000, the models make up a good portion of the checklist of best wants for affected person care.

Kennedy mentioned the occasion’s success means the hospital should buy each merchandise on its best wants checklist, together with a cell X-ray unit and changing beds on the hospital.

“Most of us are going to want care in (a hospital) at one time or one other, and it is nights like this which are going to make it possible for we get the kind of care we’ll count on,” mentioned Kennedy.

Greater than 1,000 folks have been seated on the fundraiser this yr.

Thomas and Jill-Kelly Waugh gained the occasion’s 50-50 draw value greater than $1,800 and donated it again to the PCH Basis.

Ellis famous that he was grateful to everybody concerned, from those that purchased tickets to those that gave and bought public sale objects, donated and volunteered.

“It is a fantastic neighborhood occasion in my thoughts…It is a fantastic evening,” mentioned Ellis.