Melvilles makes $1.5M donation to Penticton medical foundation

PENTICTON – The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation’s $20-million campaign continues to grow following a generous donation by a former Penticton family.

George and Sylvia Melville recently donated $1.5 million to the medical foundation’s campaign, which is raising money to supply medical equipment to the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital.

George is co-owner of Boston Pizza International, the first franchise in the chain started in Penticton in the 1970s. They currently own a summer home in Peachland where they spend part of the year.

The Melvilles have solid family ties in the community and in the area. George’s parents served the hospital — Tom Melville as Chairman of the Penticton Hospital Board and Betty Melville as a volunteer with the women’s auxiliary.

“The Okanagan region is so special to our family. Sylvia and I, along with our children, are thrilled to be able to give back in such a meaningful way,” George says.

“We are so honoured that the Melville family has chosen to support the Penticton Regional Hospital in such a generous way. Their contribution will help so many other families in the Okanagan area,” Executive Director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation Janice Perrino says.

Construction of the new patient care tower is expected to start next spring, with a completion date late in 2019.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.