Event Highlights

On Saturday, November 3, 2018, Providence Healthcare Foundation hosted the 25th annual Silver Ball, in celebration of the extraordinary patients of Providence and the staff who care for them. It was an emotional evening filled with empowering stories of patients and their families overcoming insurmountable challenges to find their voice and strength. With nearly 900 guests in attendance, it was a remarkable evening to remember.

Providence Healthcare Foundation hosted our 13th Annual Donor Appreciation Reception on October 03, 2018, sponsored by TD Commercial Banking. More than 60 of the Foundation’s closest friends joined us in a celebration of philanthropy and goodwill, and helped us honour and congratulate this year’s outstanding Award Recipients.

On September 9, Providence will be celebrating Grandparents’ Day with a “Walk, Run & Roll-a-thon”. I’ll be walking with my “grand-dog”, Henri (because I don’t have grandchildren), and I will also be walking to show my love for my Dad, who is an amazing grandfather for my two daughters (Dad won’t be at the event because he is on a four-month trip – at 90-years-old he will be kayaking in the Arctic). But most of all, I will be walking to honour my maternal grandmother, Dorothy Scott – Granny.

This Father’s Day, we will be thinking of all the dads out there who serve as role models for their children – sometimes in ways they didn’t expect. In this blog, we take a look at Ahmed who is a patient receiving rehab therapy at Providence Healthcare, while caring for his family and showing them what strength is all about.

If you could make a small donation to help a long-term care resident be safer, more comfortable and maybe even healthier, would you do it? Providence Healthcare is raising funds for our long-term care home – Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence – to speed up the replacement of our 288 residents’ beds. We are buying bedframes and controls that are the new safety standard and mattresses that improve sleep and reduce pain and bed sores.

Congratulations are in order for the Cuisine & Cuvee team at Providence Healthcare Foundation! Last year’s event – the 17th Annual Cuisine & Cuvee – won the award for Most Outstanding Event up to $200,000 (Corporate/Business/Association/Non-Profit) presented at the Canadian Special Events Industry Awards Gala on March 21, 2018.

The new year began with heart-crushing news. Having just started walking after a leg amputation brought on by complications of life-long type 1 diabetes, Bryan Rickey had to absorb the news that his other leg would have to be amputated. It’s an awful thought. Something most of us would rather avoid thinking about. But just imagine if it happened to you. How would you cope? Would you have the courage to fight to regain your independence?

At Providence Healthcare, we talk a lot about inspiration, hope and celebrating life. We know that recovery is greatly helped when people feel valued and understand that a fulfilling life can be lived in many different ways. In honour of World Social Work Day, we thought we’d share the following. Social worker Tammy Ciuclaru provides a perfect example of how we make that happen.

To mark International Women’s Day, it seems fitting to salute a woman being helped at Providence Healthcare, and shine a light on the women who do the helping. Providence was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, so the care of women, by women, has always been top of mind here. It’s an approach that has imbued the hospital’s caring culture, our celebration of courage and our commitment to the dignity of all people.

When I first started working at Providence, the first question I asked, after “where are the washrooms?” was “where is the multifaith room?” as daily prayers are a central component of my faith. The answer I got back was “there isn’t one.”

With Valentine’s Day upon us, we are remembering some of the wonderful love stories that we have witnessed at Providence Healthcare. One of our favourite stories involves Fernando Gomez and Diana Marquez.

2017 was the year of the rooster… and we can’t stop crowing about all the amazing moments that have left a lasting impression on us. Reflecting back on last year, our small team at Providence Healthcare Foundation were able to pull off many BIG things. It was our 30th anniversary this year… we had to make the year really special.

“When a child is born, so are grandmothers.” (Judith Levy) And in some of the most special circumstances, grandmothers often become ‘mothers’. This was the case for Marc Aaron Barclay.

In staying true to our innovative and nurturing spirit, we are adopting a new tradition in honour of the elderly patients we serve. It seems most fitting that we embark on an awareness initiative reflecting on the most treasured demographic in every culture around the world – grandparents!

On Tuesday June 27, Foresters Financial hosted their annual charity golf tournament at King Valley Golf Club, choosing Providence Healthcare Foundation as one of the grateful recipients of this year’s tournament proceeds.

2017 marks the 160th anniversary of Providence Healthcare. Since our founding in 1857, we have come to be recognized as innovators and trailblazers in Canadian health care. We have developed an innovative model of patient flow and care that seamlessly supports the journey from hospital to home for every patient we treat

On June 7, 2017, over 50 donors and new friends of Providence enjoyed an evening of entertainment with Soulpepper Theatre to expand awareness and support for Providence Healthcare.

It was a high stakes evening on January 18, 2017 as donors and guests of Men Advancing Philanthropy for Providence (MAPP) enjoyed our Casino Royale event at 2nd Floor Events. With the support of over 70 in attendance, MAPP raised $5,500 for the residents and patients of Providence Healthcare!

Through the generosity of our donors, six patients at Providence Healthcare will be receiving new, more comfortable mattresses! Higher quality mattresses directly lead to an increased quality of care for the patient.

Although Silver Ball guest Stacy joked that she was going to be the lucky winner of the 2016 Lexus RX350, donated by Lexus On The Park, her shock at actually hearing her ticket number being read left her speechless. “I have a friend who recently won a car at another fundraising event, and so I had been joking prior to the Silver Ball that I was going to be the lucky one this time, but I certainly didn’t think it would come true,” said Stacy, once the shock wore off.

Our incredible WIPP friends and guests enjoyed a cozy evening that included great food, delicious drink, dancing and shopping as the wonderful conversation warmed up the atmosphere with holiday cheer. This evening would not have been possible without our generous sponsors Josie Walsh and Forget About It Supper Club. A big thank you for contributing to the success of our Holiday Social.

Providence Healthcare Foundation hosted the inaugural Silver Ball in 1993, and we are so honoured that one of Toronto’s most successful annual galas continues to inspire, motivate, and affect change 23 years later. 

On Saturday, October 15th, the 19th annual O’Reilly Bonspiel for Providence raised over $11,000 (net) for Providence Healthcare! The ‘Bonspiel’ could not have achieved such great success without the assistance and thoughtful contributions of friends and family who gave so generously.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us on October 6th, for the WIPP “Sip and Paint” Night! It was a wonderful evening of learning and creating. This was a new experience for many of us but we hope everyone was able to realize her creative potential and the power of self-expression!

Excitement is still in the water after our 4th Annual 'Providence Cup' Sailing Regatta, on September 14, 2016! The race was simply amazing- The weather was beautiful, the boats were fantastic and our donors are simply the best company to have around!

When we hosted the inaugural Providence Golf Classic in 1993, spearheaded by the late Gus Arrigo, along with his pals Dusty Miklas and Bill Cooke, the goal was simple, yet a stretch: raise $500,000 in five years to help support the capital campaign to build the Houses of Providence.

Our 16th annual Cuisine & Cuvée evening, presented by TD Commercial Banking and the co-operators , raised $200,000 (net) to help Providence Healthcare create a better care experience for our patients. This is the first time in our history that Cuvée has reached this milestone amount, and we send our many thanks to our dedicated sponsors, donors, Committee Members, volunteers, staff and supporters for helping us get there.

It was a smokin’ experience at last night’s Chef Experience and Cigar Lounge for the men of MAPP! With the support of over 70 in attendance, MAPP raised over $5,123 from the raffle draw and the live auction for the patients, clients and residents of Providence Healthcare! The evening was such a resounding success that in addition to the funds raised during the raffle and live auction, we also welcomed 3 new MAPP donors who signed up at the event!

On June 9, 2016, we had a unique opportunity as WIPP donors to come together and hear the stories of other inspiring women. We were moved by our dear friend, Patsy Badali, a long-time WIPP donor and volunteer, as she shared her first-hand experiences of Providence’s compassionate care in action with her family. We were also inspired and enlightened by Greta Hodgkinson as she shared her personal journey and passion for the Canadian arts and dance.

We enjoyed an impressive accomplishment at last night’s Annual Voting Meeting, granting a total contribution of $50,000 to a most worthy need at Providence Healthcare, as voted by you! The evening was such a resounding success! With your support, we also raised $7,600 in our raffle and hockey memorabilia live auction! We also welcomed 6 new MAPP donors who signed up at the event.

On March 31, 2016, we witnessed a truly wonderful evening of camaraderie that showcased the great power of collective giving! Together, we all gathered for a special first glimpse of the beautiful WIPP-funded revitalization of Seasons Café, with the redesigned space looking simply stunning!

What a “MARVEL”lous event… Truly a Deadpoolian evening! On February 17, 2016, it was a superhero experience at the Private Movie Screening of Deadpool for the men of MAPP.

On December 2nd 2015, over 60 WIPP ladies and their guests gathered together in festive Yorkville to celebrate the holiday season in style. The ladies of WIPP enjoyed a cozy pre-reception at the Bloor Street Diner, and then laughed, and maybe shed some tears together, watching the movie Brooklyn.

Winning a beautiful Lexus was a real game changer for young Chris Walters. Although lucky in love, he had never won anything in his life, and never really participated in lotteries or raffles. But his luck changed at the 22nd annual Silver Ball, Presented by Scotiabank, when he discovered he held the winning ticket for the $58,500 grand prize car, a 2015 Lexus NX200t F-Sport. To Chris, it was a dream come true!

November 15th marks a global celebration of the generous contributions of philanthropists, who are making the world a better place by putting into action their “love of humankind” through the giving of money, goods, services, time and talent to community causes and charitable activity.

Love & Laughter were in the air at the 22nd annual Silver Ball, Presented by Scotiabank, held at the prestigious Fairmont Royal York. It was an elegant affair for over 800 of Toronto's elite from the business, arts and healthcare communities who gathered together to support the urgent needs of Providence Healthcare.

A touching love story and testimonial video featuring former Hospital patient, Anne McAndrew and her loving husband, Bob. Their life was interrupted back in April by Anne’s hip fracture that resulted from a late night fall. Following successful emergency surgery, Anne was transferred to Providence Healthcare to begin her rehab journey.

The 18th annual O’Reilly Bonspiel for Providence, organized by Leslie O’Reilly, raised the most ever in the event’s history - over $11,200 (net) for Providence Healthcare! The ‘Bonspiel’ could not have achieved such great success without the assistance and thoughtful contributions of friends and family who gave so generously.

On October 1, 2015, the “Keep Calm and Get Your WIPP On" event was a chance for WIPP to join together as a community of dedicated, philanthropic women and spend some time saying " Thank you" to ourselves!

Guests were assigned to luxury sailing vessels from the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) and set sail around picturesque Toronto Harbour in an exciting regatta (race) to the finish line! Overall, we raised thousands that night to support Providence Healthcare and the patients, residents and clients that rely on us for exceptional care.

It was truly a perfect day on the fairways ... sunshine, fun, frivolity and philanthropy were in abundance. Providence Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce the success of the 21st annual Ken & Nancy Shaw Providence Golf Classic, where we raised a record breaking $186,000 (net) for the areas of most urgent need at Providence Healthcare! We are so grateful to all of our generous sponsors, donors, and supporters, who provide the generous donations in support of Providence's legacy of exceptional care long into the future.

The event raised over $10,000 (net) to support a remodeled patient room in the new Palliative Care unit at Providence Hospital. The incredible support and enthusiasm shown by the sponsors, donors, players and friends is a testament to the dedication and continued commitment of Leslie O’Reilly and his wonderful family. View our Palliative Care Redefined video here.