100 Women Who Care-Guelph Donate Over $16,000

The Story

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) provide a home away from home (food, shelter, respite) for families in crisis who have a sick or injured child being treated in hospital. There are 16 Ronald McDonald Houses and 19 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms across Canada.

McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton is Guelph’s children’s hospital. To receive proper care, hundreds of children from Guelph with serious medical conditions (cancer, trauma, etc.) are transferred to McMaster Children's Hospital each year, with the possibility of weeks or months in hospital. RMHC South Central Ontario (RMHC SCO), run by 15 paid staff and 200 volunteers, is a 40 bedroom house directly across the street from McMaster -- its Mission is to support the family members of children in hospital while ensuring these families can stay close to one another during treatment.

The financial impacts on families for travel and accommodation can be staggering. In 2024, Guelph families with children in McMaster stayed 1,392 nights at RMHCSCO, with 6,900 meals provided to parents and siblings.

The cost to house, feed, and provide programming to Guelph families was well over $300,000 last year alone. McDonald's, as a founding and forever partner contributes nearly 30% of operating expenses through customer fundraising initiatives, however RMHC receives no government funding, and therefore fundraising is crucial to make up the difference.

RMHC is committed to financial efficiency, focused on keeping the cost of every dollar raised as low as possible, and ensuring that each donation goes toward supporting families in need.

100WWCG’s $16,000 + donation will create a fund to specifically support Guelph families travelling to McMaster for medical care for their child.

Visit www.100womenwhocareguelph.com for the original press release and for more information.

For more information about supporting RMHC South Central Ontario, please visit https://www.rmhcsco.ca/site/give-help.