This has been an exciting fall at SickKids Foundation. Our $200-million Research & Learning Tower campaign continues to build momentum with more than $38 million now raised in just five months. We’ve also been the beneficiary of proceeds from many outstanding events including the Car Rally for Kids with Cancer and the Stems of Hope Gala, to name just two. On October 25, 2010, we had the privilege of announcing a transformative donation of $30 million from the Garron Family, which supports paediatric cancer at SickKids and our Comprehensive Cancer Centre. This gift will have a tremendous impact on the care we can provide children with cancer and on future research to find new ways of treating cancer.
We are also very excited to be launching a new advertising campaign that will share some incredible stories of SickKids patients from past and present who have benefitted from the world-leading care and pioneering discoveries that SickKids is known for around the world. This creative concept is brought to life through a variety of “I’m a SickKids Kid” vignettes featuring prominent Canadians who are former SickKids patients including actor/director Sarah Polley, Toronto Symphony Orchestra conductor Peter Oundjian, Juno award-winning singer/songwriter Hawksley Workman, spoken-word artist Sheniz Janmohamed and philanthropist and business leader Arthur Labatt.
More than 20 current SickKids patient ambassadors aged three weeks to 15 years old, with conditions ranging from congenital heart defects to bone cancer, are also featured. All of the patients, past and current, have donated their time as a way to give back to the Hospital that saved their lives.
The advertising campaign will be undertaken over the next seven weeks through a variety of media including radio, newspaper and transit shelter ads and digital media. Please look for it and feel free to share your story if you were a SickKids kid. We’d love to hear from you and encourage you to visit, www.sickkidsfoundation.com/together.
On behalf of the SickKids and SickKids Foundation family, let me acknowledge and thank all those who support our work – from corporations to individuals, to event organizers, and our patients and their families. Your volunteer and financial contributions advance our work in care, teaching and research, helping SickKids to achieve its vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.