Carleton Place Hospital Foundation launches Holiday Matching Campaign to support patient care equipment

The Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) Foundation has launched its annual Holiday Giving Campaign, and this year every dollar donated will go twice as far towards a good cause.

Thanks to a special $60,000 Holiday Gift Match created by donor Donna Lynne Clarke and friends, all contributions made by December 31, 2025 will be matched dollar for dollar — a boost the Foundation says is urgently needed to equip the hospital with essential medical tools.

According to a release from town officials, gifts made by the end of the month will be matched up to $60,000, helping ensure families in Carleton Place and surrounding communities continue to receive exceptional care close to home.

Unlike hospital operations, which are funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Health, 100 percent of patient care equipment at CPDMH is funded by community donations, according to the release. Items such as stretchers, diagnostic tools, surgical instruments, anesthesia machines and other life-saving technology rely entirely on the generosity of residents year after year.

“Equipment is used every single day in our hospital,” said Patrick Kenny, Chair of the CPDMH Foundation. “”It is our donors whose generosity ensures our hospital staff have the vital equipment, tools, and technology they depend on every single day. During this season of giving, and with every gift being matched dollar-for-dollar, the support of our donors remains essential.”

This gift-matching campaign comes on the heels of the Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) announcing more than $1.9 million in provincial infrastructure funding through Ontario’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund. The investment will support major upgrades to the hospital’s physical environment, including fire safety improvements and new sprinkler systems.

“This funding allows us to move forward with infrastructure projects that are essential to maintaining safe, modern and reliable facilities,” said Brad Harrington, President and CEO of the MRHA.

While the provincial investment strengthens the building itself, it does not fund patient care equipment — a distinction the Foundation says highlights why community support remains critical.

“This funding means our teams can focus on what matters most — delivering high-quality, compassionate care — while knowing the physical spaces around us are safe and reliable,” added James Hildebrand, the Alliance’s Vice President of Capital Development & Support Services.

According to the release, this year’s campaign will prioritize upgrades to operating room and hospital-wide equipment, keeping the hospital aligned with evolving medical standards. They stated their priority needs include imaging devices, patient monitors, emergency department tools and critical surgical equipment.

Residents can make a matched holiday donation by visiting CPDMHfoundation.ca/2xImpact, calling 613-257-GIVE (4483), or giving in person at the hospital’s Foundation office at 211 Lake Avenue East.