The Mark Preece Family House is a lesser-known non-profit in Hamilton. It’s a bit of the nature of their work – you don’t know about them until they are integral to your survival.

Picture this: A family member has a medical crisis and is being cared for at Hamilton General Hospital, but you live out of town and have nowhere to stay nearby. Then, you hear about The Mark Preece Family House. An affordable place to stay right near the hospital, run by kind staff and volunteers, with other families who understand what it’s like to be going through a difficult time. There’s a hot cup of coffee in the morning and sometimes a homemade dinner in the kitchen. And slowly but surely, as your family member begins to heal, you find a calm in the storm at the House.

In 2025, the House went through a leadership transition. Difficult for any organization, but perhaps especially challenging for a small non-profit with no government funding, mostly known to those who have needed it. Patti Majcher stepped in as Executive Director after many years at the Ronald McDonald House with the passion and energy the House needed to make this transition as smooth as possible. 

Kitestring has had the privilege of collaborating with The Mark Preece Family House for many years now. And from an outsider’s perspective, Patti knows what all the best leaders know: that people make your organization possible. In 2025, Patti and her team have welcomed over 600 families through the doors of The Mark Preece Family House. They have also raised some serious donations in a short period of time. We were thrilled to celebrate one of their annual fundraising events, Fall for Beer, raising over $27,000 more than last year’s event!

While Patti will note that this is a drop in the bucket compared to the rising costs of the House, while committed to maintaining an affordable nightly rate for families, her leadership is making strides. The way Patti values people and trusts in collaboration has allowed our collective efforts to thrive. We know that we’re better together, and that if we put our heads together, we have the opportunity to further the work of The Mark Preece Family House.

If you’re working with a third-party creative partner, graphic designer, or marketing support, I urge you to ask yourself if you have what you need to thrive in this way. If so, hang onto them and allow yourself to trust in them to bring your vision to life. Because when you do, you’ll see your efforts multiply and truly make a difference in your community.