Good evening everyone,

I want to start with the most heartfelt thank you. A few months ago, I stood here and shared the story of Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario — our mission, our work, and the very real impact it has on families from Guelph whose children need to be at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

And you responded. Over 170 of you raised your hands — not just to give, but to say: “This matters.” That kind of collective action is powerful. It tells us, and it tells the Guelph families we serve, that their community is walking beside them in one of the hardest moments of their lives.

Thanks to your generosity, RMHC SCO received over $17,000 in donations. And in the short time since your gift, we’ve already welcomed 17 Guelph families through our doors, 8 of whom are STILL living there today. We have provided over 212 nights of comfort, rest, and home-cooked meals. Tragically, two of those families experienced the unimaginable loss of their child — and we were there with them through it all, offering support no hotel room or waiting area ever could.

This is why RMHC exists. We are not just a place to stay — we are a place to be held. A place to breathe, to grieve, to hope. And we do that with no government funding. We ask families for $12 a night if they can afford it — but our real cost is over $250 a night. And while McDonald’s supports us through things like McHappy Day and Round-Up, that covers just 30% of what we need to operate. The rest — 70% — comes from donors like you.

Your support is especially meaningful because we operate in Hamilton, yet serve families from across the region — and it can be easy to feel “outside the bubble” of some local giving. So for a group like 100 Women Who Care Guelph to look beyond city limits and say “these are our people too” — that’s not just generous. That’s transformational.

Your support matters — not just because of the dollars, but because of the message. When 170 women in one city stand up to say, “We care about this,” it creates momentum. It sends a message to other donors, to corporations, and to decision-makers that this is a cause worth paying attention to.

But even more powerfully, it tells Guelph families — you are not alone. Even when you’re far from home, your community has your back. That kind of leadership — from women like you — creates ripples. It says, “We take care of our own, even when they need to leave the city to get that care.” It helps more than just with the dollars — it builds visibility, it opens doors, and it tells future funders and families alike that this is a cause that matters here.

Because the truth is: families from Guelph will continue to need to travel for pediatric healthcare. That’s a reality. And so building a strong network of care and compassion for them on that journey is not just important — it’s essential. You are now part of that network.

And tonight, I’d also like to acknowledge someone who represents another important piece of this growing community of care — our Board Chair at RMHC South Central Ontario, Paul Matteis. Paul is also a proud member of 100 Men Who Give a Damn Guelph, and his presence here tonight means so much to us. He understands firsthand the power of collective giving and the difference it makes when a community shows up for its families.

I’d love to invite Paul to say a few words and help us close out this full-circle moment. Before I pass it over, from all of us at RMHC, and from the Guelph families who have walked through our doors this year, thank you.

Thank you so much.

Meaghan Moore,
Director, Advancement & External Relations
RMHC SCO