Solcz Family Foundation makes 'unprecedented' $15M donation to Windsor hospital

The Solcz Family Foundation has donated $15 million to the new Windsor hospital — a gift officials are describing as "monumental," "transformational" and "unprecedented."

The donation will support a birthing and pediatric centre that will span an entire floor of the hospital, Marty Solcz announced on Monday at a ceremony on the site of the new hospital.

It will also fund a pediatric zone in the WRH emergency room — eliminating the need for children to wait in large waiting rooms.

"When the hospital was first announced, our family immediately identified this as a project we wanted to help bring forward to the Windsor-Essex community," Solcz told the audience at the announcement. 

The new centre and new pediatric zone will be named for the Solcz Family Foundation, the hospital announced in a news release.

David Musyj, the acting president and CEO of the London Health Sciences Centre and the lead on the new Windsor acute care hospital project, said the gift is the largest donation to the largest fundraising campaign in the history of Windsor and Essex County.

"It's truly transformational, record breaking — you could use all kinds of adjectives," he said. 

The money will be used to pay for equipment, including advanced MRI and CT scanners, Musyj said.

It's an important contribution because 10 per cent of the funding for the hospital project has to be raised locally.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens recalled Solcz patriarch Michael Solcz's history in Windsor, growing Valiant Machine & Tool Inc. into an international enterprise while showing generosity toward local organizations.

Premier hints work on hospital could start ahead of schedule 

Premier Doug Ford told the Solcz family that their donation will make a huge difference in the lives of families for generations to come.

"Your philanthropy is second to none, and hospitals would not get built if it wasn't for families like yourself," Ford said.

"You're incredible. God bless you."

At one point during the announcement, Ford appeared to tease that the hospital might get built ahead of schedule.

"We're on track for the construction contract to be awarded in 2026," he said, then added, "That seems a little long, buddy — 2026.  …That's the target but we're going to do better. I'm sure we will."  

Asked about Ford's comments, Musyj told reporters that when Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones say something's going to happen, it happens. 

"There's been a lot of talk with respect to moving this sooner rather than later.  We just have to move through some procurement processes and get this thing going," he said.

"Expect to hear some exciting news shortly."