The Sault Area Hospital Foundation has announced a significant $800,000 donation from Tony and Anna Ruscio and their family to support local healthcare services in Sault Ste. Marie. This contribution, the largest recent gift featured on the foundation website, arrives as the hospital manages ongoing financial pressures.
Of the total donation, $600,000 is dedicated to purchasing essential medical equipment for the hospital, specifically supporting cardiac care, ophthalmology, and the intensive care unit. The remaining $200,000 serves as a matching gift to encourage community support for the emergency department. Every dollar donated by local residents to the emergency department will be matched by the Ruscio family until June 30, 2026.
Tony Ruscio, who is over 90 years old and remains active in local development projects, has a long history of community involvement in Sault Ste. Marie. After arriving from Italy as a young man, he transitioned from working as a bricklayer to becoming a prominent local entrepreneur. Alongside his wife, Anna, the family built and operated the former Ramada Inn, now known as the Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre, and contributed to numerous housing and recreational developments in the region. In 1994, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce recognized Tony Ruscio with the Outstanding Business Achievement Award.
This latest gift follows a $200,000 donation the family made to the Group Health Centre in August 2025, which helped fund various surgical instruments. Through these ongoing efforts, the family continues to support the infrastructure needed to provide care within the community.
Executive Director Teresa Martone and the foundation team work to raise $5 million annually, a goal that helps the hospital replace aging equipment and adopt new technology. The foundation emphasizes that this community-wide support remains vital as the hospital navigates broader funding challenges.
