Stefano’s Stories: Creativity counts for kids in hospital

August 2024

What if I told you, you could have fun while making a difference? That’s what countless #CommunityChampions do when they host their own imaginative fundraising initiatives to help kids who need Manitoba’s only children’s hospital – HSC Children’s Hospital.

Every year, creative members of our community connect with their interests, hobbies, and skills to raise more than $1 million for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba and in the 2023-24 fiscal year it was over $1.6 million – wow!

We’re so grateful for the generous folks who lend their time and talent to support children who need treatment and care and are astounded by the inventive ways they find to fundraise AND have fun.

For instance, there’s the Salo Family Light Show. The Salos have a blast hosting a brilliant Christmas light display and accept donations during the holiday season. They even added a Halloween light show to their repertoire last year.

There are also gamers playing to help kids in hospital. In Brandon, a group of enthusiasts of the tabletop game, Warhammer, held a tournament called the Gingerbread Apocalypse and raised an incredible $7,383.

The Stead Ranch Steak House in Gull Lake pulled together an eight-week long talent show with Manitoba musicians and steak sandwich specials for a truly entertaining and delicious fundraiser.

Plus, there are #KidsHelpingKids like the Candy Cane Sisters, Chloe and Molly, who spent the holiday season collecting donations and handing out candy canes to their donors.

Some #CommunityChampions fundraise to honour a loved one, like Ireland’s family and owners of Willy Dogs. To celebrate Ireland’s hearing anniversary, following a successful cochlear implant surgery in 2018, Willy Dogs sells specialty items in February with a portion of sales donated.

Other fundraisers share their interests and weave in a fundraising component, like the Ferrari Club of America – Manitoba Chapter, hosting its first golf tournament and bringing in $12,000 and the Annual Skate the Oval on Winnipeg’s largest ice surface. Skate the Oval and ACE’s Fantasy Football League raised a fabulous $10,681 last year.

For years, the Winnipeg Ghostbusters have been expressing their love of the Ghostbusters films by dressing up, attending events, and collecting donations.

And Voyageur Technical leads first responders and superheroes-in-training to rappel down HSC Children’s as a special Halloween celebration for kids in hospital.  In 2023, they added a fundraising element, collecting $34,000, and you can watch out for your favourite characters scaling the building again in October of this year.

All these initiatives, and many more, count towards making sure children have the best care possible. No matter what you love to do in your spare time, there’s always a way to make an impact for kids who rely on our Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.

To start your own community initiative to #ContinueCaringForKids visit goodbear.ca/fundraise.