Senators Community Foundation gives $1 million to Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice for kitchen upgrades

The Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice kitchen will be upgraded, thanks to a donation from the Senators Community Foundation. CTV’s Peter Szperling reports.

The kitchen at Roger Neilson Chidren’s Hospice is now officially named the Senators Foundation Kitchen after a $1 million gift from the organization.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Senators Community Foundation, the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club, Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice, and the CHEO Foundation gathered for the official naming ceremony and opening.

“The Senators team and their wives have been instrumental in supporting our organization over the last 20 years,” Megan Wright, CEO of Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice, tells CTV News Ottawa.

“The donation was for $1 million. It will be used to update our kitchen to make it more accessible. We’re 20 years old this year, and so, it needs a little facelift. And then they provide ongoing support for all of our programs and services with the rest of that funding.”

Wright says part of making the kitchen more accessible will include modifying countertops and ovens to be used at wheelchair height.

“We want to make this kitchen really accessible for the kids using our home. And we want to make sure the kitchen is somewhere where they feel really comfortable in,” she says.

“It’s a special place, Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice,” Cyril Leeder, president of the Ottawa Senators, tells CTV News. “It’s been here now 20 years, and we’ve been involved every step of the way. It’s a real special spot in our hearts.”

According to Wright, the kitchen renovations will start this fall.

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