The Stephanie and Barry Zekelman Foundation announced a transformative $3-million contribution to Ronald McDonald House Windsor on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, coinciding with the charity's 10th birthday celebration. The donation, the largest single gift in the local chapter's history and one of the most significant nationally, will support an expansion that nearly doubles the facility's capacity within the future Fanscy Family Hospital.
A Growing Need
Barry Zekelman, CEO of the Zekelman Foundation, emphasized the urgent need for more space. "Families are already being turned away because there simply just isn't enough space, and with the new hospital coming, that demand will only continue to grow," he said during a gathering of over 100 community leaders at the Windsor Regional Hospital Metropolitan campus.
Matthew Chater, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario, noted that demand has steadily increased since the Windsor House opened in May 2016. Over the past decade, the house has welcomed roughly 1,000 families for long-term stays, hosted more than 6,458 families through its day pass program, and provided 15,264 nights of comfort. It has saved Windsor-Essex families nearly $700,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.
However, growing demand has outpaced capacity. In 2025, 58 Windsor families were turned away from long-term stays, and hundreds more could not access the day pass program due to lack of space. The expansion aims to meet anticipated demand, with the new facility located within the city's future mega-hospital site. It will be named the Ronald McDonald House Southwestern Ontario — Windsor — The Zekelman Centre.
More Than an Expansion
"The Zekelman Centre is more than just an expansion," said Zekelman. "It's a promise. A promise that more families will be able to stay close to their child, just steps from their bedside. It's about ensuring that no family is ever turned away when they need the support."
The Windsor-based foundation has supported communities locally, nationally, and internationally. During the event, Kayla and Charbel Saad shared their experience at the Windsor House after their son, Alexander, was born prematurely at 29 weeks, weighing three pounds. "This house was our sanctuary," said Kayla Saad. "It meant I didn't have to drive back home to Leamington in tears at 2 a.m. after a long shift by his incubator. It meant a warm meal was waiting for us when we were too emotionally exhausted to think about feeding ourselves. It gave us a bed, a shower, and most importantly, the ability to be by Alexander's side at only a moment's notice."
Ronald McDonald House Southwestern Ontario serves approximately 2.3 million people across southwestern Ontario and parts of northern Ontario through three sites: a Windsor House within Windsor Regional Hospital, a 40-bedroom London House, and a Family Room at Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre.
