Tractor enthusiasts leave $2 million to local hospitals
Don and Cliff Schultz were bachelor farmers who lived a simple and honest life raising cattle, growing crops and collecting tractors on their farm in the Blyth, Ont. area.
“Don and Cliff were first cousins, so we knew them my whole life. They were just all around good guys,” says one of the executors of the Schultz Estate and first cousin, Jack Vincent.
All that hard work, along with 80 tractors, over 3,000 toy tractors and no family to leave it to left a sizeable estate when the brothers passed in 2013 and 2019. They asked friends and neighbours, Les Caldwell and Jack Vincent, to be their estate executors and to divvy up the estate evenly amongst four local hospitals.
“Don and Cliff had said they made their money in the community and they were going to leave it in the community. I’m not positive they realized exactly what their estate was going to total, but they have donated over $2 million to the four local hospitals,” says Schultz neighbour and estate executor, Les Caldwell.
$2.17 million to be exact, split evenly amongst hospitals in Wingham, Goderich, Clinton and Seaforth — which works out to $544,317 each.
“The way they raised the funds in their life is so unique and interesting. Not only farming, but through their love of toys and tractor memorabilia. They were able to make a prosperous life for themselves here, and they felt they wanted to return that prosperity to their neighbours in the form of healthcare. What could be better,” says Nicole Duquette-Jutzi, leader of the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation.
The money will be put to good use in all four hospitals, supporting immediate projects and medical equipment, as well as future needs.
“It’s such a good story, and for us, it’s a very significant gift. It is for all four hospitals. They were so thoughtful to choose four hospitals and not just the one. They’re making such a big impact,” says Kimberley Payne, director of the Alexandra and Marine General Hospital Foundation in Goderich.
“It’s just such a wonderful, wonderful, story. We were thrilled to be asked to be executors. It’s been a really good experience,” says Caldwell.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.