WINCHESTER – The generosity of Fred and Carole Brouse is continuing posthumously.
Last week, the first major donation of approximately $400,000 to the Brouse’s charities of choice was announced at Winchester District Memorial Hospital.
Bruce Tessier of BMO Nesbitt Burns was on site at WDMH to facilitate the gifts of shares from the Brouse’s Estate and shared that this would be a recurring gift over the next several years.
In this first transfer, $100,909 in shares was donated to the WDMH Foundation.
Similar gifts were given to the other three charities identified by the Brouses in their will including: Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation (Ontario Division), and Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
The couple lived in Iroquois and Brockville their entire lives. They both worked at the same company, Automatic Electric, in Brockville.
Fred had a passion for boats, whether it was building and racing hydroplanes from the early 60s to the early 80s, or cruising in the ‘Big Decision.’ Carole shared his passion as his number one fan, or first mate. They were both well-known on the racing circuit and recreational waterways of Ontario, Quebec, and parts of the U.S. Carole was also an active canvasser for a number of charities, and she and Fred also participated in charitable golf tournaments, always trying to make a difference.
Their hard work and financial savvy allowed them to leave philanthropic gifts in their wills to four charities.
“I wish I knew Fred and Carole Brouse,” said Kristen Casselman, WDMH Foundation managing director. “And, I wish I could’ve known about the depth of their commitment to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital while they were alive so I could thank and celebrate their inspirational spirit with them.”
The executor of the Brouse’s estate said: “There’s a reason Fred and Carole chose these four charities to give sustainable gifts to. Both Fred and Carole had received care at WDMH, as well as Carole’s Mother, Donelda Banford, and they considered WDMH their local hospital. Carole was even a canvasser in the WDMH Foundation’s campaign to build over 90,000 square feet of additional space during the ‘Renewing the Vision’ campaign. Fred was a prostate cancer survivor, and received treatment at the Ottawa Hospital, and support from the Canadian Cancer Society.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation was important to Carole as her father had a heart attack and passed away when she was very young, and her step-father, later on had a stroke and passed away after being in a coma for some time.”
“Fred and Carole hoped that this kind of gift, made over several years after their death, would act as a continual reminder to the community of the importance of regular contributions in order to fund new and existing projects, so that the charities know there is a certain level of income to rely on for planning.”
“We are always very honoured to receive a gift from someone’s will, as it’s the most personal and selfless gift someone can make,” said Casselman. “We truly consider our planned giving donors part of the family at WDMH and the Foundation. Thank you to the Brouses and to the estate executor for facilitating such an impactful gift.”
Carole and Fred Brouse pictured on a 1999 Panama Cruise.