St. Mary's General Hospital celebrates largest donation in its history

HiWay market appeared in this undated photo. (Submitted: St. Mary's General Hospital)

St. Mary’s General Hospital has received the largest single donation in its 100-year history.

The estate of Ralph and Dorothy Kraft donated $11.1 million to help fund the construction of a third catheterization suite at the hospital in Kitchener. Roughly $4 million of that will be going directly to the catheterization lab project.

When it’s completed, officials said the new lab will enhance cardiac care programs at the hospital.

The Kraft donation will also help the hospital buy its first MRI machine and cover the extra costs associated with bringing the Savvas Chamberlain Eye Clinic to St. Mary’s in 2023.

Some of the money will also be go to a coalition of regional hospitals, health networks and universities working together to form the Care NEXT innovation fund. The initiative involves research and experimentation.

Ralph and Dorothy Kraft opened the HiWay Market grocery store in 1952. It offered more than just groceries, with a barbershop and florist, as well as clothing, hardware and toy departments.

The couple died in 1998 and 2006, respectively.

Their estate has also made a large donation to the Grand River Hospital Foundation.

In total, the donations to both hospitals add up to more than $28 million.

St. Mary’s General Hospital will be unveiling a plaque in their honour on Friday near the MRI suite.