Table Of ContentTRANSFORMING LIVES,
TOUCHING COMMUNITIES
WITH THE POWER OF A
CHILD’S WISH
Annual Report 2013 - 2014
www.childrenswish.ca
ONE WISH,
SO MANY
SMILES
Children’s Wish is a uniquely Canadian charity that helps Canadian children, families and communities
by granting the favourite wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. With every wish that
we grant, we create moments of joy that ease the pain of a child, give respite to the child’s family, and
connect healthcare professionals and communities in that burning wish of hope.
Celebrating 30 years and over 20,000 wishes granted
Largest wish granting organization in Canada
113,000 generous donors
Record-breaking revenue totalling $25.2 million
MESSAGE FROM THE
BOARD CHAIR AND CEO
There’s a palpable energy at Children’s Wish Foundation – an infectious excitement about
great things to come. Thirty years after we granted our frst wish, Children’s Wish has arrived
at a pivotal point in our organization’s history, and we’re making changes with profound and
ultimately wonderful implications.
Thanks to advances in medicine and technology, many children are now surviving illnesses
that were once considered to be fatal. But they are often left with incredible challenges
that make day-to-day living difcult, and many are dependent on their family members for
everyday tasks such as eating, getting dressed, or just getting around.
From our feld work and our discussions with the medical community, we know there is a
Jeanette Wakelin real and urgent need to provide joy and relief to these children and their families. Children’s
Chair, National Board of Directors Wish will be extending the incredible gift of a wish to this broader range of children and
families who are coping with high-risk illnesses that signifcantly afect qualify of life.
This change, which represents a tremendous step forward for Children’s Wish, would not
have been possible without the support of people like you. Your generosity has allowed us to
grant more than 20,000 wishes over the last three decades.
The numbers tell only part of the story. A single wish granted makes a diference in the lives
of as many as 100 people or more – the wish child, family members, classmates, teachers,
healthcare professionals, volunteers, businesses and support groups. Entire communities
have been transformed by the fervent dream of a wish child, and over the last 30 years this
has translated into millions of Canadians touched by Children’s Wish.
With our decision to extend our reach to more children living with high-risk illnesses, we
anticipate an increase in wish referrals and, consequently, a need for more revenue. We’re
already working hard to expand our resources to ensure no eligible wish child is turned away,
Chris Kotsopoulos and over the last year we’ve seen wish referrals hit a record high in many provinces. Now we
Chief Executive Ofcer must work even harder and continue to expand our revenue sources.
To accomplish this, we intend to strengthen our relationships with donors and volunteers,
and to build greater awareness of Children’s Wish. We’ve already taken steps to advance this
goal. Last year, we refreshed our brand to ensure Canadians understood who we are and
what makes us diferent. We invested in a new, more compelling website. We boosted our
media outreach, resulting in greater coverage.
We have accomplished so much and, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary this year, we
want to thank you once again for your support. Children’s Wish has brought joy to so many
children, families and communities. With your continued support, we will work harder than
ever to bring the healing power of a wish to many more children in Canada.
Jeanette Wakelin Chris Kotsopoulos
The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada 2013 - 2014 Annual Report 3
CAN WISHES WORK
WONDERS? SEE FOR
YOURSELF
From playing among butterfies to hanging with Olympians, the wishes we grant are life-changing for wish
kids, their families and communities.
OLYMPIC DREAMS: THEY SHOOT, THEY SCORE FOR JAYDEN AND FRÉDÉRIQUE
It’s the ultimate dream come true for sports fans: a seat at the Olympic Games. Jayden and Frédérique – both avid hockey fans – got
their ultimate wish to attend the 2014 Sochi Olympics, thanks to Children’s Wish and the support of RBC Royal Bank and Hudson’s Bay
Company. When the Canadian women’s hockey team found out Jayden and Frédérique were at the Games, they promised to try and win
gold for the wish kids – and they did!
%
98 1,085 4,100 494 NUMBER OF
OF WISH PARENTS CHILDREN FAMILY WISH CHILDREN’S
SAW POSITIVE GRANTED WISHES MEMBERS INCLUDED IN HOME TOWNS ACROSS
EMOTIONAL OR LAST YEAR. A WISH LAST YEAR. CANADA.
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
FOR THEIR CHILD.*
Winning wish: Jayden with his parents, all geared up for victory at the Going for Gold: Frédérique, an avid hockey fan, got to watch and meet
2014 Sochi Olympics. Canada’s women’s hockey gold medal winners at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Magical Moments: For little Tegan, Smiles for Miles: Tristen made Flights of Fancy: Averi’s trip to Sweet Dreams: Ice cream for
a princess makeover was a magical new friends – and loads of happy Disney World was flled with much- breakfast? Anthony’s trip to Disney
experience. memories – at Atlantis Paradise needed moments of joy and relief. World was a real treat for him and
Island in the Bahamas his family.
A World of Diference: Visiting
Japan gave Kim-Lee and her family
renewed energy and hope.
The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada 2013 - 2014 Annual Report 5
*Source: Children's Wish Family Survey
HANDS
ACROSS THE
COUNTRY
Through our strong relationships with
donors and supporters across Canada,
938 11.8
Children’s Wish raises millions of dollars
FUNDRAISING MILLION
each year to grant the wishes of children
EVENTS ACROSS DOLLARS RAISED
with life-threatening illnesses. THE COUNTRY IN FROM THESE
THE PAST YEAR. EVENTS.
Photo: Louis-Étienne Doré
EXILE ISLAND
Inspired by the reality show
Survivor, Exile Island is an
annual fundraising event that
puts local business leaders
across Canada “in exile” armed
only with their communication
devices to compete with other
participants. Exile Island took
place in 11 locations in 2013 and
raised more than $900,000.
The event has generated more
than $6.5 million since 2007.
150,000
DOLLARS
RAISED BY THE
PALOOKA HALIFAX
TRIBE
97,900
DOLLARS
RAISED BY
INTEGRAL ENERGY'S
CALGARY TRIBE.
WISHMAKER WALK
FOR WISHES
From coast to coast, thousands
of Canadians hit the road
on foot each year for our
Wishmaker Walk. In 2013, $1.3
million was raised from walks in
close to 100 locations across
the country. The event has
raised more than $11 million
nationwide since 2005 to
help grant wishes to Canadian
children.
The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada 2013 - 2014 Annual Report 7
697 97
NUMBER OF HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
HEALTHCARE TREATED OUR WISH
PROFESSIONALS WHO CHILDREN OVER THE
REFERRED CHILDREN PAST YEAR.
TO US.
BEHIND EVERY
WISH, OUR MAGIC
THERE ARE OVER MAKERS
20,000
VOLUNTEERS Children’s Wish is so lucky to have a
IN THE CHILDREN’S
WISH NETWORK. vast network of individual volunteers,
community groups and organizations that
help us create the magic of a wish through
their generous gifts of time and skills.
Jocelyne and Claude Giguère - Laura Cole BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2013-2014
Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients
CHILDREN'S WISH Children’s Wish honours Jocelyne and Claude Giguère this year, Jeanette Wakelin, Chair
VOLUNTEERS with the Laura Cole Volunteer of the Year award. This annual Prince Edward Island
DONATED OVER citation recognizes outstanding work among the Foundation’s Richard Lachance, Vice Chair
350,000 gcoivuen tthreyi-rw timdee n aentdw sokrikll so tfo v oclruenatee mrso –m geenntse roofu jos yC aannda dhioapnes wfohro Quebec West
HOURS OF PERSONAL Brenda Abrams, Treasurer
TIME LAST YEAR. seriously ill children and their families. Ontario
For Jocelyne and Claude, volunteering with Children’s Wish began Lloyd Matthews, Secretary
as a tribute to their daughter, Marjorie, and continues as a lifelong Newfoundland and Labrador
commitment to helping other wish kids and families. More than 20
Jan Grude
years ago, Marjorie got her Children’s Wish to meet Mitsou, the British Columbia and Yukon
Quebec singer and actress. Through that unforgettable experience,
Jocelyne and Claude saw frst hand the transformative power of a Les Gombik
child’s dream come true. Alberta and N.W.T.
Mitch Minken
Over the last 20 years, Jocelyne and Claude have delivered wishes Saskatchewan
THE VALUE OF DONATED to about 400 children. They have demonstrated unwavering
TIME IS WORTH OVER commitment and enthusiasm for Children’s Wish, and they spare Nicholas Leitch
7 MILLION no efort to ensure every child’s wish is truly magical. When one Manitoba and Nunavut
DOLLARS - ENOUGH child wished for a kayak, the Giguères got him an excursion with Mike Niebudek
FOR OVER SIX HUNDRED a kayaker from Canada’s national team. For a girl who wished for National Capital Region
WISHES! a shopping spree, the Giguères arranged for a chaufeur-driven Eric Gagnon
limousine, the services of a makeup artist, and special attention Quebec East
from several shopkeepers. Jim Wyatt
Because of their personal experience as wish parents, Jocelyne New Brunswick
and Claude are able to quickly establish rapport and trust with wish Darren Nantes
families. They even organized a Christmas party one year for wish Nova Scotia
families – and more than 200 people showed up! Jocelyne and
Claude are tireless fundraisers, organizing dozens of fundraising
events over the last 10 years. Thanks to their outreach eforts,
many event organizers and media outlets have supported and
helped raised public awareness of Children’s Wish.
It’s amazing to think how that one wish we granted for Marjorie
more than 20 years ago has led directly to more than 400 wishes
and thousands of dollars raised for wish children and their families.
We can’t thank you enough, Jocelyne and Claude, for your
generosity and lifelong commitment to Children’s Wish.
Flight in Search of Santa: Volunteers from Air Transat make this event
possible every year.
Jocelyne and Claude Giguère: Laura Cole Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients.
The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada 2013 - 2014 Annual Report 9
TREASURER’S REPORT
We’ve had quite a year at As we increased our revenue, organization and help more
Children’s Wish. Thanks to our we continued to ensure children and families. We plan
generous donors, our fscal that as much of our dollars to expand some of our existing
year ending March 2014 saw as possible goes towards revenue-generating initiatives
record-breaking revenue granting wishes. Our overall to support this growth.
of $25.2 million – a 4.2% fundraising ratio is 32.5%,
We will apply for accreditation
increase from the previous but that decreases to 26.4%
within Imagine Canada’s
fscal year. after factoring out costs and
new Standards Program
revenues associated with the
The challenges of raising for responsible fnancial
lotteries. Our administrative
funds within the charitable management and reporting
costs ratio is less than 13% –
sector demanded that we for charitable organizations.
unchanged from the last three
examine the ways to further Our ongoing commitment to
Brenda Abrams years.
engage the donor community. their programs underlines our
Treasurer
Building upon our popular Over the last decade, the strong belief in transparency,
annual volunteer-supported number of children referred accountability, and careful
fundraising events like to the Children’s Wish stewardship of our donors’
Wishmaker’s Walk for Wishes, Foundation has grown by dollars.
we recognized that the power 22%. Over 70% of our
We have another busy year
to deliver a wish required a current reserves has been
ahead of us. With your
more diverse mix of revenue earmarked for the wishes
continued support, we will
sources. of the many approved
work harder than ever to bring
children who are either
Our Saskatchewan Wish Home the healing power of a wish to
awaiting completion of their
Lottery is one example of our many more children in Canada.
treatments or have not yet
expanded revenue base. While
chosen their wish.
they cost more to run than
traditional fundraisers, over We have a lot of work to do
the past 3 years our lotteries as we build on our successes.
contributed $1.5 million in net We will continue advancing
revenue – enough for 125 our strategy to grow our Brenda Abrams
wishes.
WHERE OUR FUNDS HOW WE PUT YOUR MONEY
COME FROM TO GOOD USE
INVESTMENT
INCOME
CLUBS AND
GROUPS
LOTTERIES CHILDREN'S
GIFTS-IN-KIND WISHES
CORPORATE
FUNDRAISERS
LOTTERIES
FUNDRAISERS
INDIVIDUALS
ESTATES ADMINISTRATION
