It’s a time of transition for Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital and that will include the group that supports the purchase of medical equipment for our local healthcare facility.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation announced Monday Penny Rolinski would be stepping down from the role of Executive Director at the end of June.

Rolinski has held the top post at the Foundation office for the last two and a half years and more recently has been directly involved with the big-picture planning pieces required to raise the community’s $12.7 million share of the new hospital cost.

For Rolinski, the decision to move on from the Executive Director post was based on the needs of her family.

“This is a family decision, based on the changing needs of my family over the next few years to enable my daughter’s continuing education at a new school in the wake of a school closing. I know many Prince Edward County families are facing similar challenges,” Rolinski explained. “If ever there was a good time to step down, this is it. The Hospital Foundation is financially strong and plans for the new hospital campaign are coming together exactly as I could have hoped. The (PECMHF) is in a really good place.”

While Rolinski will be leaving the executive director position, she will not be leaving the Foundation and has already committed to continuing in a capacity that allows PECMHF to benefit from her wealth of experience, knowledge and energy.

“I started this job planning to stay until the new hospital was built, but life sometimes gets in the way. This change just means I’ll be involved in other ways – including as a volunteer and as a monthly donor to the new hospital campaign,” Rolinski  added.

Foundation Chair Monica Alyea credited Rolinski with increasing the Foundation’s profile in the community, strengthening relationships and with broadening donor giving options.

“Her skills and concentrated engagement on behalf of the Foundation have expanded our community profile over the past two years. Together, with our Communication Coordinator Briar Boyce and Campaign Manager Marthe Robertson, they are exceptional representatives of the Foundation in the community,” Alyea said. “(Rolinski) has brought the Board to a better understanding of charitable fundraising and related data management. She has strengthened our working relationship with Quinte Health Care through her participation at the various planning forums for new equipment and towards building a new hospital. And, she has put in motion the Capital Campaign Planning process that led to hiring Ms. Robertson as our campaign manager. We are a much stronger organization as a result of Penny’s guidance and management. We regret that she can no longer lead our organization as executive director, but we are delighted that she will continue to work with us toward the goal of building a new hospital in the County.”

Rolinski’s four month notice allows the Foundation time to launch a search for a replacement.

Advertising for a full-time position will be published toward the end of March.