The Children's Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent (CTC-CK) is starting the new year with a hefty donation from a Chatham-Kent philanthropic family.
The generous Myers Family has donated $1 million to the Butterfly Building Campaign.
The $1 million donation from the Myers Family gets the local fundraising efforts to $9.5 million, $500,000 shy of the $10 million goal for the new centre in Chatham on McNaughton Avenue across the street from St. Clair College.
The centre offers therapy and services to children with special needs, developmental delays, and disabilities.
"We're a local company that believes in this community," said CEO of RM Sotheby's Rob Myers. "If we can help reduce the waiting list for kids needing specialized therapies and services, then we will do it."
Rob Myers said the family believes in kids and helping out as much as they can in the area, adding he and his wife Cathy were blessed with two healthy children.
"This facility, it helps parents with a lot of things in dealing with their children. So, I look at it and I think it's great for the children, it's needed for the children, and it's needed for the parents. So, we're happy to help out that way," said Rob.
Rob's daughter Jessica Myers knows first hand how important the centre is to the community and helping get the new building over the finish line "means a lot".
"One of my children came here for speech therapy and a lot of my friends bring their children here for various reasons. This facility suppports one in five families in the community. So, it obviously helps a lot of people in a lot of different ways," Jessica said.
Executive Director of the CTC-CK Donna Litwin-Makey is grateful for the generous donation and credits all donors for their efforts in pushing for a new building.
"Our donors have really shown the ministry, our province that the community is behind us and they've always made that an expectation. So, this is really, really positive," said Litwin-Mackey.
Litwin-Mackey said officials will start looking for a contractor next month and the new building should be complete by the end of 2025 and open by early 2026.
She said it's difficult to say when construction will start because there are still a lot of moving parts, adding the cost of the new centre is not finalized yet.
President of the Children's Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent Mike Genge noted this donation will have a significant impact on moving a new 50,000 square foot facility ahead for the children of Chatham-Kent.
Genge added this new facility will do amazing work and the extra space and facilities are long-needed.
"I hope we all can get behind finishing this project in 2024. Every day, the need grows for this new, expanded and modernized CTC facility as our waiting lists get longer," Genge said. "The Myers family is aware of this need and have strongly supported our efforts in the past."
Litwin-Mackey said waiting lists could be several months, depending on the service needed. She added the centre currently serves between 5,000 and 6,000 children and the new centre will be able to accept more. Litwin-Mackey noted some families move to the municipality to access services at CTC because they don't have them where they lived.
Chair of the CTC Foundation Kevin Owen, said this is another significant gesture that shows how much Rob and Cathy Myers want to help our kids with special needs.
"What a great way to end 2023!" said Owen. "We are making great strides and are about to ask the community to help us over the finish line. The Myers Family have really given us the boost we need to get this project done."
The new Children's Treatment Centre will feature a range of essential amenities, including a dedicated gym, therapy rooms, and an updated pool that will be accessible to both clients and the wider community.
Officials said the increased office space will enhance the working environment for staff and provide improved charting capabilities.
The Centre will also be fully compliant with Ontario’s accessibility standards, ensuring that it is fully inclusive and accessible to all, said CTC officials.