Bowmanville Hospital gifted $3.8 million for redevelopment
Published July 7, 2023 at 10:27 am
The late Harry Locke, a former Bowmanville businessman and longtime Standardbred racehorse owner, has gifted the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation $3.8 million – the largest planned donation in the foundation’s history.
Frank Cerisano, Chief Executive Officer of the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation, said the “extraordinary” legacy gift will go to support the redevelopment and expansion of the Bowmanville hospital.
“This generous contribution will inspire others in our community to step up and help ensure the expansion moves from paper to reality”, Cerisano said. “There are many ways to help the hospital with the redevelopment and expansion. Many feel because they do not have much passive income to support charities they are not in a position to help. It’s quite the opposite when it comes to legacy giving. Call the foundation office, you will be surprised on how you can help.”
As the hospital’s ground-breaking approaches in the fall of 2025, the legacy gift from the Estate of Harry Locke, who died at Lakeridge Health Oshawa July 4, 2019 at the age of 88, “propels the Bowmanville Hospital Foundations mission forward” to expand and redevelop the hospital, he added.
The redevelopment and expansion project, which includes the construction of the new North Tower and the subsequent demolition and renovation of the South Tower, is expected to be completed by the spring of 2028.
Cerisano said the foundation is working to meet the scheduled timelines but the completion date is “rapidly approaching” and is calling on the support of the entire community to make it happen. “We encourage you to reach out to the foundation office and contribute to this urgent need today.”
The gift from the Locke’s estate embodies a “steadfast commitment” to making a difference in the community, he added. “Together, we can build upon the philanthropic spirit of past legacies and forge a flourishing future for all.”
Harry Locke