The local philanthropist surprised the crowd with a donation to the House of Sophrosyne
Quite the surprise at the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards Wednesday night.
Local philanthropist Al Quesnel was on hand to accept the 'Believe Windsor-Essex' award and during his speech surprised the crowd with a one million donation to the House of Sophrosyne.
Earlier this month, Quesnel had promised to match up to a million dollars toward the centre's fundraising campaign to build a new home — but that pledge has now been scrapped and Quesnel will be giving the money regardless.
He told the crowd at the awards the addiction treatment centre does great work for local women and deserves the help.
Lisa Tayfour is chairing the House of Sophrosyne's fundraising campaign and says the donation brought her to tears.
"I'm beyond surprised. I'm so emotional right now. I just really elated and just really thankful because it's been a tough road for us as a charity to raise money and it's just really great."
She says they had no idea Quesnel would step up like this.
"I didn't know, absolutely not. I know that he stepped forward and said that he was going to pledge and we've been working feverishly trying to step up to the plate and get people to come together. So when he announced that it was just, wow, really, really grateful."
Tayfour says this is going to make their work a whole lot easier.
"That's going to allow us to be up and running a lot quicker than what we thought. This is just an amazing opportunity for the House of Sophrosyne and for me, chairing this capital campaign, I know how hard I've worked to try to raise awareness and bring in funds for it, I can sleep really good tonight."
The House of Sophrosyne has outgrown its current home on Chappell Ave. in west Windsor and is trying to raise $3.5-million to renovate a building on Adstoll Ave. on the city's east side which it acquired from the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to donate to the fundraising campaign.
— with files from Manny Paiva