The Story
Since opening its doors in September 2024, Niagara’s Ronald McDonald Family Room at Marotta Family Hospital has become a vital resource for families in the Niagara region. Each month, the Family Room hosts about 3,000 visits and has provided more than 18,000 meals and snacks to caregivers and families with children in hospital – not to mention the countless loads of laundry, hours of support and much-needed respite during challenging days and nights.
For Robyn Dobson, a resident of Port Colborne, Niagara’s Family Room became a lifeline during a complicated delivery in December 2024. Robyn, who had worked at the Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton years ago, was supported by the new Family Room while her daughter spent time in the Marotta Family Hospital NICU for breathing and feeding support.
Diane Bond and the late Bill Bond - Generous Platinum Donors
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Being able to just go down the hall for coffee and food was a lifesaver. Having somewhere peaceful, non-clinical space to visit without with our older daughter made our stay just a little more comfortable, a little more bearable.
Robyn’s admiration for RMHC SCO grew even stronger after experiencing their support firsthand: “My family and I will be forever grateful, especially for the people who made this space in St. Catharines possible.”
Niagara’s Ronald McDonald Family Room was made possible by an incredible partnership with Niagara Health, Mountainview Building Group, Silvergate Homes, and ongoing fundraising efforts through the Because We Care campaign led by The Rotary Club of St. Catharines South and The May Court Club of St. Catharines. Their combined contributions have been pivotal in bringing this much-needed space to life.
“The Ronald McDonald Family Room has become an essential space for families facing the challenges of having a child in the hospital,” says Natalie Doucet, Director, Women & Babies and Children’s Health program. “The ability to step away, even for a moment, to grab a meal, do a load of laundry or simply take a deep breath in a comforting space makes an incredible difference. We are proud to be part of a partnership that provides this much-needed support to families in our community.”
“This is a space created through collaboration, generosity, and shared compassion,” said Mario De Divitiis, CEO of RMHC SCO. “We’re excited to continue our mission of supporting families and ensuring they have the care and comfort they deserve during their most difficult moments.” Given the high percentage of families that we serve come from Niagara, having a Family Room in Niagara is a natural extension, providing support and comfort to local families with children receiving care closer to home.
When we spoke with Diane Bond, a generous platinum donor, about her decision to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in building a new Family Room in Niagara, she explained that after learning about RMHC, the choice was simple. She made the gift in honour of her late husband, Bill, who lived by the golden rule: "We should all be kind and treat every person with respect and dignity. Bill embodied this philosophy in every aspect of his life. He had an innate ability to sense when someone needed help, and without hesitation, he was always there to lend a hand.”
Diane shared, “I wanted to honour his legacy of kindness. Choosing RMHC to do that felt like a perfect fit for both Bill and me.”
Diane’s own career, teaching pediatric nursing at Niagara College, solidified her choice. For years, she taught and mentored future healthcare professionals, guiding them to understand the importance of not only medical care but also the human side of healing - showing kindness and empathy. “Supporting RMHC felt like a natural extension of my career and values. It’s a perfect marriage of our personal and professional lives, honouring both Bill’s beautiful spirit and the line of work I loved."
Diane added, “My son, granddaughters, and I are grateful that we can continue Grandpa’s legacy of kindness through our support of the Ronald McDonald Family Room.” She paused, reflecting on the opportunity to give back: “We were very fortunate, and being able to help families and children in this way is such an honor. I truly feel privileged to do it.”
As the Niagara Family Room enters its seventh month, its impact continues to grow. Ronald McDonald Family Rooms like the one in St. Catharines are an extension of RMHC's mission to care for families with sick children, bringing our services directly into the communities we already serve.
Check-out the Rotary Club of St. Catharines South and The May Court Club St. Catharines' fundraiser on June 14th!
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