Irving Oil and the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation make $1-million gift to support the new Ronald McDonald House in Halifax, NS
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) Atlantic
Halifax, NS - Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) Atlantic is celebrating a $1-million donation from Irving Oil and the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation, toward the building of a new, state-of-the-art Ronald McDonald House near the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, NS, which will double the number of Maritime families that the organization can support.
RMHC Atlantic plans to welcome families into the new facility, which will be located across the street from the IWK in downtown Halifax, in 2024.
“We’re truly humbled by the generosity of the Maritime community who, despite a worldwide pandemic, stepped forward in such extraordinary ways to support our mission. We look forward to being able to support twice as many families when they need it most, and to eliminate the waitlist at Ronald McDonald House,” says Lori Barker, Chief Executive Officer.
This donation from Irving Oil and the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation to RMHC Atlantic’s More Room for Love campaign was inspired, in part, by Sandra Irving’s nephew, Christopher Ring, son of Paula and David Ring, who at the age of 10 was a heart patient at the IWK in the early 1980s. Christopher’s kindness and creativity was felt by all those around him. The Arts & Crafts Room at the new house will be named in his honour.
“The Ronald McDonald House is a special place – of love and caring, of a home away from home on some of the hardest days,” says Sandra Irving. “It is our hope that Christopher’s Room at the new Ronald McDonald House will be a place that brings hope to all those who visit.”
“We’re proud to contribute to this important cause that will benefit so many families in the places we call home,” says Ian Whitcomb, President of Irving Oil. “Atlantic Canadians support each other, especially when they are caring for a sick child. It’s why we’ve also invested in the redevelopment of the IWK Emergency Department and are continuing to grow the impact of our award-winning Fuel the Care program.”
The new Ronald McDonald House will double capacity, welcoming up to 1,200 families annually as they travel for medical care for their child. It will offer 36 bedrooms with private bathrooms, will be fully accessible, and will provide an elevated level of services to its visitors.
For information about RMHC Atlantic, visit rmhcatlantic.ca.
For renderings and a virtual tour of the new Ronald McDonald House, visit moreroomforlove.ca.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities® Atlantic
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic helps keep families close to each other, and the care they need, when they need it most. Our programs include Ronald McDonald House®, a home-away-from-home for out-of-town families with sick children, and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms®, an oasis of calm and support inside the walls of the hospital. We support 2,200 families annually from across the Maritimes while they are treated at a nearby hospital.
About Irving Oil
Irving Oil is a family-owned and privately held international energy company. For nearly 100 years, our commitment to doing good business has been grounded in our commitment to people – to our employees, customers, communities and partners. Founded in 1924, our mission is focused on our continued evolution to meet the changing needs of our customers. Specializing in the refining and marketing of finished energy products, we operate Canada’s largest refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick, and Ireland’s only refinery located in the village of Whitegate. We proudly serve customers with more than 1,000 fuelling locations and a network of distribution terminals spanning Eastern Canada, New England and in Ireland, operating under the Top brand. We are on a continuous journey of sustainable development, working to reduce our environmental footprint while continuing to provide safe and reliable energy to our customers. Named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for eight consecutive years, we are proud of our team and our longstanding commitment to our customers and our communities. Learn more at www.irvingoil.com.
Quick Facts:
• Today, one in four Canadian families have either stayed at a Ronald McDonald House or Ronald McDonald Family Room or know someone who has.
• With the addition of 410 new bedrooms, RMHC across Canada has plans to grow from 522 bedrooms to 932 over the next decade through a capital investment of $244 million.
• A recent RBC study reported that by adding 18 bedrooms to our Ronald McDonald House program, RMHC Atlantic will provide an incremental 4,336 nights of family comfort each year, which equates to $2.5 million in additional family savings annually for Maritime families.
Media contacts:
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic
Lori Barker
CEO
902.222.5559
[email protected]
Irving Oil
Katherine d’Entremont
506.654.7162
[email protected]