About Us
We raise funds and manage donor gifts to support outstanding clinical care and research for the communities served by Hamilton Health Sciences.
A Message From Our CEO
The Return to In-person Signature Events

After two consecutive years of virtual events, we are thrilled to once again plan for in-person gatherings in 2022 for all our signature events.

The event season kicked off with MacKids Walk & Wheel, which saw nearly 900 MacKids, community members, sponsors and volunteers gathering at Bayfront Park on June 4. The festivities, food and fun made for an unforgettable event. A record-breaking $283,643 was raised in support of McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation, which will support the highest-priority needs at McMaster Children’s Hospital and Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre. We are proud to announce that the event has now raised more than $2 million over its 11-year history! Thank you to our patient ambassadors, supporters, and sponsors for making MacKids Walk & Wheel such a tremendous success this year.  

Although autumn seems far away, we are already preparing for our next signature event, Strides, at Bayfront Park on September 17. You can choose the timed 5km run option and use the event as motivation for your summer fitness training, or you can do the 5km walk option and enjoy the beautiful waterfront trail around the park. Whichever option you choose, the money raised will go to support the important recovery work happening at the Regional Rehabilitation Centre. Many patients use the specialized out-patient services at the centre when recovering from a cardiac incident, stroke or a significant injury, and the care they receive is a critical part of their healing journey. To register and start fundraising, visit hamiltonhealth.ca/strides.

Illuminight, our fall-themed event that raises funds for the highest priority needs at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre, very shortly follows and is a wonderful way to experience the changing of the seasons. The vision of Illuminight has always been to ‘shine a light on cancer’, and some extra measures will be taken this year to truly amplify that light. Preceding the walk event on October 1 at F.H. Sherman Recreation and Learning Centre, we will be releasing stories from patients, physicians, and clinical staff on a different area of cancer care. We hope these stories will inspire you and give you a deeper understanding of the extraordinary impact of care within the hospital. Please share these stories with others in your network to make the light we shine on cancer even brighter and help us raise funds for the cancer centre. Thanks to our generous community, more than $500,000 has been raised through Illuminight since 2018. You can register and start fundraising now at: hamiltonhealth.ca/illuminightevent.

The summer months are also a time when numerous associations, community groups and local businesses host events and fundraisers to raise funds for The Foundation. It is an honour to be connected to such a devoted community of supporters who make a tremendous contribution to our mission. On behalf of everyone at Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, thank you for your support, and we hope to see you at Strides and Illuminight.

Sincerely,
Signature of the word Pearl
Pearl F. Veenema, FAHP
Chief Executive Officer
Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation

It’s Vital To Care

Each dawn brings into our world a new mosaic of people, patients, staff, and critical needs. Needs for funding to support patient care, medical equipment, specialized programs, education and research. It is a unique blend of needs that inspires us to do our very best.

While we are a mosaic, each one of us unique in our skills and talents, we unite in our desire to make a difference as we bring our own passion and commitment to our roles. We inspire those we encounter on our daily journey to join with us, as we raise funds to support our region’s health and well-being.

We seek to inspire by telling the stories of patients and staff. They are the friends, families and loved ones of people who rely on the care we support. It is their stories that have the power to influence why It’s Vital to Care.

Gifts come in many forms, each with its own unique value and role in supporting our Foundation. We remain focused building the community’s confidence as their charity of choice. A charity that welcomes contributions great and small, providing for the needs of our hospitals. A contribution that enables each hospital in our family to have the equipment and environment that enables caring and compassionate health care.

An environment, where through funding for world-leading research, the next treatment, cause or cure can be found. Each day we remain focused on those who can help us to impact a life. The life of today’s patient or tomorrow’s.

Together, we are committed to inspiring donors to understand why It’s Vital to Care.

Our mission is to raise funds and manage donor gifts for the purpose of supporting outstanding clinical care and research for the communities served by Hamilton Health Sciences.
To see a community of inspired and committed donors who embrace It’s Vital to Care.
The Foundation believes that relationships and partnership are the basis of excellence in fundraising. Therefore we will:
  • Treat all donors, the Hospital and others with integrity, respect and appreciation
  • Be accountable to our donors and the community
  • Encourage creativity and innovation in our activities
Donor Policies

We take pride in our accountability to donors and the community. Please view our policies below:

Privacy Policy

The guiding principles reflect our commitment to safeguarding our donors’ personal information.

Read Privacy Policy
Tax Receipt Policy

We have been issued a Charitable Registration Number by the CRA, which permits us to issue charitable donation or gift receipts for income tax purposes.

Read Tax REceipt policy
Complaint Policy

We are committed to creating a transparent and fair method of receiving and responding to external complaints.

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Honours & Memberships
Association for Healthcare Philanthropy logo
Children's Miracle Network logo
Our Leadership

Our leaders are community ambassadors who work tirelessly to help us raise funds for patient care.

Board of Directors

Our board members are passionate advocates for our mission and serve an important governance role.

Learn More
Our Management

Meet the team that oversees the daily operations of The Foundation.

Learn More
Careers - Current Opportunities

We are an equal opportunity employer and will accommodate any needs under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Hiring processes will be modified to remove barriers to accommodate those with disabilities, if requested.

Digital & Content Marketing Specialist

The Digital & Content Marketing Specialist role has the overall responsibility for content creation, social and community management, email deployment, as well as the planning, execution, tracking and reporting of digital marketing activities to achieve the Foundation’s brand awareness, engagement and fundraising goals.
Read the full posting
Development Coordinator

A dedicated fundraising professional, this role has an assigned portfolio of individual, corporate and community organization donors and third-party events and is responsible for building strong and productive relationships to maximize revenue generation opportunities. This front-line support position also provides a wide range of administrative and office support that requires exceptional organizational talents, database management skills and professional communication in person, by phone and in writing.
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Deadline for receipt of applications:
Friday June 17, 2022 at 4:30 PM
Deadline for receipt of applications:
Tuesday January 4, 2021
Manager, Legacy Giving
Deadline to apply:
May 31, 2023