How Hamilton's Ronald McDonald House Began

In 1987, McMaster University Medical Centre (now McMaster Children’s Hospital) was designated a children’s hospital for infants and children who are critically ill, as well as a centre for the treatment of high-risk child health cases and high risk pregnancies and childbirth. Dr. Peter Dent, who initiated the application for a Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Hamilton , was Chair of the Pediatrics Department at the time.

After Dr. Dent involved the Junior League of Hamilton Burlington (JLHB), a feasibility study began under the leadership of JLHB member Nancy Ferris. Nancy went on to become the House’s first president. JLHB pledged $100,000 to RMH’s capital campaign over a four-year period.

League members participated in numerous projects. The RMH Design Committee, chaired by Sandy Gowans, together with the National Council of Jewish Women, secured nearly $500,000 in donations. JLHB ran the first open house and fundraised in the community for the $3.5 million capital campaign. The JLHB helped provide the energy, commitment, skills, resources and dedication to make “the house that Love built” a reality in Hamilton .

McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, their franchisees and Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities of Canada (RMCC) pledged a large initial donation to help build the house. An Ontario group of McDonald’s Restaurants known as the Ontario Co-Op gave the Hamilton Ronald McDonald House project $1million to kick off its $3 million building campaign. This was followed by a donation of $250,000 from RMCC (now Ronald McDonald House Charities).