Tony and Anna Ruscio and Family commit $800,000 donation to Sault Area Hospital Foundation
- 3 hours ago
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$200,000 of the gift will match community contributions to the Emergency Department!
This spring, Sault Area Hospital Foundation is celebrating a $800,000 donation from Tony and Anna Ruscio and Family. 75% of the gift ($600,000) will fund critical equipment all across Sault Area Hospital, including Cardiac Care, Ophthalmology, and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The remaining 25% ($200,000) will go toward matching YOUR donations to Sault Area Hospital’s Emergency Department – dollar for dollar until June 30th. That means any donation made this spring will be DOUBLED thanks to their generous pledge!
The Ruscio name is well-known in this community, and Tony was the first of his family to come to Sault Ste. Marie. He and Anna met in Sault Ste. Marie – both hailing from different parts of Italy. Tony may have started as a bricklayer, but he and Anna became trailblazers – bringing dozens of new things to the Sault. Bowling alleys, roller rinks, racquetball courts, golf courses, swimming pools… when Tony had an idea, the whole family dove in! Self-taught in almost every space with no formal education, Tony was never afraid to roll up the sleeves (even of his good suit) and get his shoes dirty. While he ruined some clothes in the process, he attributes much of the success of his family to this work ethic.
While they built hundreds of houses and apartments in Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area, these Ruscios may be best known for constructing and operating the Ramada Inn on Great Northern Road – now under different ownership as Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre. When the Ramada Inn opened, it boasted the largest conference facilities in Northern Ontario, and its multi-storey indoor/outdoor waterslide drew people from hours away to come and stay. The family expanded their hotel business to turn the “old Woolco building” between Queen and Bay Streets into a Travelodge, then a Days Inn and Suites (now under different ownership). At over 90 years old, Tony is still building up Sault Ste. Marie – working on plans for the old Downings Garden Centre site on Trunk Road.
Throughout the years, as hard work and success rewarded them, Tony, Anna and their family quietly gave back. It started small – helping others who emigrated from Italy get on their feet, feeding and hosting employees who became fast friends, and paying for a promising student’s university tuition. Tony was a proud member of the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie for many years, and Anna contributed as a “Rotary-Ann” – the two of them helping at club fundraisers and activities. As their businesses grew, so did their generosity – with gifts to charities and organizations making a difference in our community. This spring, they are using their latest generous gift to help make YOUR donation to Sault Area Hospital Foundation go even further!
“The Sault has been good to us, and we want to share with others in a way that we can all benefit,” shared Tony Ruscio. “Everyone needs the hospital, especially the Emergency Department. No one should have to wait all day there. If we can buy some of the equipment they need, together, maybe we can reduce that wait.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Tony, Anna, Barbara, Dominic, Marcella and Linda for their generous support of Sault Area Hospital Foundation,” said Teresa Martone, Executive Director. “Their quiet generosity over the years has left an indelible mark on Sault Ste. Marie, and we are proud to celebrate their latest act of generosity. This gift will touch so many in our community, providing the critical equipment needed to care for them across Sault Area Hospital.”
While Tony and Anna Ruscio and Family have provided this match, we can’t meet this goal without the support of our community. Make a gift before June 30, 2026, to double your impact and fund this essential equipment for Algoma District.
Donate before June 30, 2026 to double your impact!
