Collavino Families announce $1 million gift to new hospital

The Collavino Family made a $1 million donation to the new Fancsy Family Hospital, which is to be built at the corner of County Road 42 and Concession 9. The donation sees the family get naming rights to the Collavino Family Cardio-Pulmonary Diagnostic Lab.

Motivated by personal experiences with heart and lung health concerns, members of two Collavino families have made a $1-million gift toward the Fancsy Family Hospital to support vital equipment and technologies needed at the future acute care facility.

The Collavino Family Cardio-Pulmonary Diagnostic Lab at the Fancsy Family Hospital will commemorate their generous contribution to the new hospital.

The joint donation from cousins Loris, Paolo and Renzo Collavino and their families was announced Feb. 20 at the Ouellette campus of Windsor Regional Hospital, home of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Coronary Care Unit. 

Fittingly, the announcement was delivered during Heart Month in Canada (February), a time to raise awareness about the importance of cardiovascular health.

“Like many families in the region, we have first-hand experience with the cardiac and cardio-pulmonary care at Windsor Regional Hospital, and we understand how critical it is for our medical teams to have access to state-of-the-art equipment to help save lives,” said Loris Collavino. “We feel privileged to play a part in the lifesaving care that will take place at the Fancsy Family Hospital.”

Windsor Regional Hospital is the regional hub for cardiac care, treating patients in the Erie St. Clair area which includes Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton. The new hospital will ensure timely access to leading cardiac and cardio-pulmonary services.

“Windsor-Essex has one of the higher rates of heart and lung disease, and many of us have a loved one who has been cared for by the dedicated health care teams at Windsor Regional Hospital,” said WRH President and CEO Karen Riddell. “We cannot overstate the importance of donor support in those critical situations. The Collavinos’ gift will help bring the advanced equipment and technology we need at the Fancsy Family Hospital to continue providing outstanding care to our patients.”

The Collavinos have a long history of local giving that spans health care, conservation, the arts, education and more. This $1-million gift is their largest donation to-date.

“The Collavino families transformed a personal experience into an incredible gift that will benefit the lives of many other Windsor-Essex residents for generations to come. We are very grateful for and inspired by their generosity toward our community,” said Cristina Naccarato, executive director, Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation.

This is the latest public donation made to the Fancsy Family Hospital. In August 2025, Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation revealed the new hospital’s name following a historic gift of approximately $40 million from the estate of the late John Thomas Fancsy. In April 2025, retired OBGYN Dr. Tony Pattinson and his wife Mary, a retired emergency nurse, gave $1.5 million to the new hospital which will name an Operative Birthing Suite in recognition of their gift. In September 2024, the Solcz Family Foundation announced a $15-million gift to the new hospital which will bear the Solcz Family Foundation’s name in the Family Birthing and Paediatric Care Centre as well as the Paediatric Emergency Zone.

While hospitals in the province are primarily paid for by the province, the local community is responsible for funding 10 per cent of hospital construction costs, as well as 100 per cent of the costs for furniture, fixtures, equipment, parking and shell space. The Collavinos’ donation, in addition to other generous gifts and the contributions by the City of Windsor and Essex County, will help ensure the new hospital is outfitted with the latest equipment and technology.

The Fancsy Family Hospital is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform hospital services across Windsor-Essex. The new acute care facility will have the capacity for 100 per cent private rooms, enhancing patient safety and privacy while offering a warm, healing environment. In addition to improved healthcare experiences for patients and families, the new hospital will be a beacon for healthcare professionals, allowing the hospital to better retain and recruit top medical talent to the region. The Fancsy Family Hospital represents a pivotal step in the development of a comprehensive, fully integrated health system for Windsor-Essex County.

Collavino Families announce $1 million gift to new hospital

Special to the RTT