Children's Hospital has just been given its largest single donation in at least five years.
The Thistledown Foundation, co-founded by the head of Shopify, is handing 13 children's hospital foundations across Canada a combined $26-million. Each of the foundations, including London’s Children’s Health Foundation - the fundraising arm of the London Health Sciences Centre's Children's Hospital - will get a $2 million cut of the funding.
Children’s Health Foundation President and CEO Scott Fortnum said the organization is incredibly grateful for the "tremendous gift" from the Thistledown Foundation.
"Their support will ensure the pandemic will never compromise our commitment to meeting the unique needs of our young patients and supporting those who love them," said Fortnum. "This historic gift will make such a positive impact — ensuring kids receive the best possible care and the most possible hope when faced with a life-threatening or life-limiting diagnosis."
Money raised through the Children's Health Foundation goes to buying needed equipment and funding programs and research at Children’s Hospital. Officials are working to determine how best to spend the latest $2 million donation.
"Through this gift, our hope is that children across Canada will have the best possible care to enable them to feel better soon and get back to the important job of being kids,” said Fiona McKean, co-founder and Chair of Thistledown Foundation.
McKean and her husband Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke established the charitable foundation in 2019. The donation to the 13 children's hospital foundations was made to coincide with National Child Day.
