This is the last weekend to take part in the Burger King Bear program! There are approximately 250 participating Burger King restaurants that will be selling paper Bear icons for $2 both in store and at drive-thru windows until November 30. Proceeds will go to SickKids Foundation. Last year’s campaign raised more than $200,000 for the Foundation and with your support we can raise even more this year!

Stories such as Helena Kirk’s are a great example of why programs like the Burger King Bear icons are so important to the Foundation. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the age of three, Helena has been receiving chemotherapy treatments at SickKids for a year and a half and will be done her treatments next summer. Without the support of organizations like Burger King and the donations raised through their campaigns, SickKids would not be able to deliver the high quality of care and treatment it provides to its patients.

Burger King has been a generous donor of SickKids Foundation for more than 10 years, and over the course of that time has raised more than $2 million. The donations brought in through their campaigns directly benefit paediatric research at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, as well as across the country.

Join us in thanking Burger King for their ongoing support and, if you happen to stop in for a burger this weekend, pick up your own Bear paper icon as well!

Happy Holidays!

It’s that time of the year again! Snow is beginning to fall, festive lights line the streets and holiday displays are appearing in store front windows. This can only mean one thing: time to start putting together that holiday shopping list. Well you’re in luck. This year, SickKids has some great holiday campaigns with local retailers that will make your holiday shopping a snap.

On now, and running until December 12, all Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and West Elm locations will be accepting donations on behalf of SickKids Foundation at cash registers. In addition, all Pottery Barn locations are selling tree ornaments, with a portion of the sales going to the Hospital. Pop in to one of these great locations to make a donation or to purchase your special ornament and spread the holiday cheer!

Also on now, to celebrate the spirit of the season is a limited edition Tiffany bracelet complete with its own unique GPS Yorkdale charm. All proceeds will support SickKids Foundation. To purchase your bracelet or to learn more, please visit http://www.yorkdale.com/gift-certificates/.

For the month of December, the LCBO will be inviting its customers to make a donation to SickKids Foundation at cash registers at locations throughout Ontario. Now let’s be honest, there is a good chance most of us will be visiting an LCBO before the end of the holidays so why not contribute to a great cause?

Still not sure what to get for that special someone? How about SickKids Get Better Gifts? This exclusive online symbolic giving catalogue features unique items that will directly benefit the children and families at The Hospital for Sick Children. Simply browse our online catalogue and choose a meaningful gift, such as A Holiday Meal for a Family or A Stocking Surprise. You can even select a card to accompany the gift with your own personal message. All purchases support the most critical needs of the Hospital. Together we will brighten the lives of children at SickKids this holiday season.

If you would simply like to send a holiday e-card or traditional card, SickKids Foundation has those, too. Click here to select a card.

Now Go Get Shopping!

Happy Holidays!

As the competition heats up for the final skate-off on CBC’s hit series Battle of the Blades, it could prove to be a big night for SickKids.

Olympic and World Champion Figure skater Ekaterina “Katia” Gordeeva is partnered with Valeri Bure, a former NHL hockey payer, on the show. The hugely popular Battle of the Blades series pairs up figure skaters and former NHL stars to complete for $100,000, which goes towards the winning pair’s favourite charities.

Cardiac Kids, a group that raises funds for the Labatt Family Heart Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children, was chosen by Gordeeva as her charity of choice.

Tune into CBC this Sunday night at 8 pm. Let’s show our support and help raise $50,000 for SickKids. Voting is free, so vote early and vote often! For a list of voting options click here.

Founded in 2000, Cardiac Kids is a volunteer group that was established to raise much-needed funds for children who are suffering from congenital heart disease. The proceeds raised benefit the children and staff of The Labatt Family Heart Centre at SickKids.  

The cause is very personal for Gordeeva, whose husband and skating partner Sergei Grinkov collapsed on the ice and passed away after suffering a massive heart attack in 1995. It was later discovered that Grinkov had a congenital heart condition which caused his death.

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

Gordeeva recently visited with some of the children at SickKids. Here’s a photo from her visit: