Generosity inspires possibilities at Holland Bloorview

Click the button to hear an audio version of the panel.

From the very beginning generosity and gratitude have fueled possibility at Holland Bloorview.

It’s a little-known fact that starting with its inception in 1899, the “Home for Incurable Children” as we were known then relied exclusively on donations from the local community to support its work caring for children and youth with disabilities. With no government funding at the time, the hospital relied on the hearts, hands and generosity of donors ranging from “two little children from Montreal who donated $1,” to better known philanthropists including Mrs. Timothy Eaton and Mrs. Albert Gooderham.

An annual report from 1900 chronicles some fascinating and touching “in kind” donations including: flannelette sheets and soap from Mrs. Ellis, cot and mattress and sheets from Mrs. J.K. Osborne and toys and books from Mrs. Gordon.

First annual report, November, 1900

The legacy of giving continues to this day. In the 125 years since then, our donor community has only grown—both in number, and in commitment to Holland Bloorview. If you have ever visited Holland Bloorview, then you have experienced first-hand what individuals, families and organizations can achieve when they come together in philanthropy.

Going beyond our clients’ immediate medical needs, our donor-funded programs and services enable kids and youth with disabilities to realize a world of possibility. Parents and caregivers at Holland Bloorview have access to a wide range of supports, from financial assistance through the Family Support Fund, to peer-to-peer mentorship, from summer camps in our Spiral Garden, to sessions with a music therapist, clients at Holland Bloorview participate in a variety of programs that enable self-expression and growth. And when clients are ready to transition to adulthood, our clinicians and staff are there to provide life skills coaching and help navigate the workplace.

These wrap-around programs and services are made possible by the generosity of donors.

Additionally, donations fuel groundbreaking research at the Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), impacting pediatric disability research worldwide. Through the recent Grow Holland Bloorview Research campaign, our donors helped us to raise over $32 million. As a result, the BRI now houses the highest concentration of disability research in the world.

Read on to learn more about a few of our over 36,000 donors who make all this possible.

The Dickens Fellowship

Helping write the story of Holland Bloorview

The Dickens Fellowship, an international organization that celebrates the life and works of British novelist Charles Dickens, has been our longest-running annual donor, giving generously since 1905. They are inspired to give to Holland Bloorview in recognition of Dickens’ own philanthropic work, including his fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital, the first children’s hospital in England. Continuing their namesake’s legacy, the Dickens Fellowship endowed a Charles Dickens Cot at an early iteration of Holland Bloorview, and even provided Christmas Dinner to hospital inpatients in 1905. More recently, Toronto chapter member Janice, who volunteered at Holland Bloorview while in university, has donated countless prizes to the Fellowship’s raffles, with all proceeds going to the hospital.

“Charles Dickens cared deeply about children in need. Through his writing about children in stressful situations, he impacted social change, and it is in this spirit that we choose to help kids and youth at Holland Bloorview.”

– Lise Olds, member of the Dickens Fellowship, Toronto chapter and administrative assistant at the Bloorview Research Institute

Doug Paton of the Dickens Fellowship presenting annual donation to Alison Hughes, manager of partnerships, Holland Bloorview Foundation.

Bill & Susanne Holland

Leading the way in contributions to childhood disability care

Bill Holland was first introduced to Holland Bloorview by his friend and colleague, Tom Muir, who was then chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Bill describes his first tour of Holland Bloorview as an eye-opening moment, where he was immediately inspired by the positivity of staff, clients and families at the hospital. Later, Bill and his wife Susanne realized that families they knew had received support from Holland Bloorview, which gave them a first-hand understanding of the impact of our hospital on the lives of kids and youth with disabilities.

In the years since then, Bill and Susanne have given more than $27 million to Holland Bloorview. In 2010, the hospital was renamed Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in recognition of their transformational giving, and their generosity continues with Bill currently serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The Hollands are motivated to support Holland Bloorview by the continued innovation of our clinicians, scientists and staff, and their creative partnerships with clients and families.

“Science and technology have gone from making prosthetics to now having the capability to allow kids with limited speech or movement to use their minds to drive a wheelchair or turn on a light switch.If this is what 125 years looks like, we will make even more progress in the next 10 years.”

– Bill Holland, chairman, CI Financial, and current Foundation Board member

Susanne and Bill Holland. We updated our name in 2010 to honour their transformational gift.

Rehan, Arpita & Emmanuel

Raising funds and raising confidence

Rehan is the host with the most. As an ambassador for Holland Bloorview over the last five years, he has participated in many fundraising and awareness campaigns. He stole the show as the co-emcee of our annual Evening of Possibility Gala in 2022, and even made a donation himself while on stage!

Rehan and his parents, Arpita and Emmanuel, are encouraged to give to Holland Bloorview because of how the hospital’s programs and services have guided his growth and development.

Rehan first came to Holland Bloorview at just two years old, following a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and later, autism and a learning disability. Since then, he has volunteered for research studies at the Bloorview Research Institute, participated in recreation programs like swimming and robotics, and is a return camper at Spiral Garden. Perhaps most importantly, Rehan’s self-confidence has grown with every visit to Holland Bloorview.

“As parents watching this unfold, it makes us incredibly proud. Rehan’s level of confidence and skill was many years in the making, and we attribute this to the hardworking, knowledgeable and talented staff at Holland Bloorview.”

– Arpita, Rehan’s mom

Rehan, Holland Bloorview client ambassador.

Corporate teams like this one from Morgan Stanley give back by volunteering at Holland Bloorview.

Our Capes for Kids fundraiser set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the ‘Largest Gathering of People Wearing Capes’ in 2023. Among those pictured are, Sandra Hawken, president and CEO, Holland Bloorview Foundation, NBA player Pascal Siakam, and Max Kerman of the Arkells.

Watch this video and help us celebrate 125 years of generosity in support of kids and youth with disabilities.