A year of Raising Hope™

From ringing the bell in our first edition, to ringing in the new year of a new decade with the incredible results of Crosby’s Challenge, a fundraising initiative inspired by a four-year-old boy, we are pleased to welcome you to 2010 with the second edition of our Raising Hope newsletter.

Last year was a challenging one, yet despite the uncertain economic times, you – our friends and supporters – never lost sight of the important role you play in the health of our children. Your support helped us contribute over $3.8 million to specialized children’s health care:

• $714,000 to the specialized services and programs at Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre;
• $813,000 in specialized medical equipment for Children’s Hospital;
• $915,000 towards research at Children’s Health Research Institute; and
• $1,390,000 to identified child health care priorities through our 8 new campaigns.

2009 saw renewed support by our past supporters (from Children’s Miracle Network sponsors, to event participants, individuals and more) and exciting new initiatives, like Crosby’s Challenge, which brought fresh energy, spirit and innovation in support of children’s health care and research. Thank you.

National studies identified gaps in health care. ‘Reaching for the Top’, a report by Dr. Kellie Leitch on Healthy Children and Youth, identified gaps in the health care of children across the country, over and above what government funding is able to supply.

For 2010 -2012 Children’s Health Foundation has developed a new Strategic Plan to continue raising additional funds to address as many of those gaps as we can.

Children’s Hospital has identified priority issues that need immediate support including childhood obesity, injury prevention, palliative care and child and adolescent mental health. Our Strategic Plan addresses these priorities while maintaining the funding of core areas of specialized support.

Children’s Health Research Institute is doing spectacular innovative research on several new fronts, including the fascinating field of epigenetics, paediatric personalized medicine, quality of life for those with an on-going life impacting illness and the establishment of a special translational research centre. Their work will impact the causes, cures and prevention of major childhood diseases worldwide. One of our major fundraising strategies for 2010 will focus on helping them get the support funding they need locally, regionally, and nationally.

Thank you for caring about the children and youth we serve.
All the best in 2010!



Debbie Comuzzi
President & CEO