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Home , Anita Ford, Foundation (nonprofit), Joan McCusker, Marcia Gudereit

Foundation 2020 Donor Impact Report A message from Sara and Jenna England Sandra’s Daughters

First and foremost, thank you! On behalf of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, we are pleased to provide you with this exclusive update highlighting the many ways your generous have helped save the lives of premature and critically ill newborns across Canada. This report is our way of demonstrating to you the life-changing, life-saving results of your . After all, like when two stones strike each other on the ice, the smallest of impacts often make a huge difference. Trust us.

As Sandra’s daughters and Foundation Ambassadors, Sandra’s daughters, Sara and Jenna we regularly hear from families and medical professionals who have seen firsthand the benefits of Junior Scholarships” program. Thanks to donors like your kindness. Simply put, we’ve heard from families you, these young people are enabled to pursue their whose children are alive and well today – because of you. competitive curling dreams while continuing in their It’s hard to describe the depth of emotions you feel academic studies. when you walk into a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Lastly, we’d like to extend one final heartfelt word of (NICU) for the first time. It’s a place where the highest appreciation – one that may seem out of place for a highs and the lowest lows meet, where humanity is report like this, but it means a lot to us… at its most vulnerable. Most of all, for us, it’s a place where you see the real, tangible impact of the work you Thank you for helping us get to know our Mom, Sandra support as a Sandra Schmirler Foundation donor. Schmirler. Sometimes people forget that we were only babies when cancer took her from us, and we don’t Remember, for many people, it’s hard to comprehend have as many memories of our Mom as we would like. how much money is really needed to pay for the life-saving supplies and equipment needed to keep However, by coming to know Foundation donors like premature and critically ill newborns alive. Plus, you and hearing stories about how she inspired so with rapid and much-needed advances in medical many, our connection to her will endure forever. technology, it’s nearly impossible for NICUs to keep up It’s hard for us to imagine what she would say about with the newest and best equipment. the growth and success of this incredible Foundation, but one thing we do know from stories our Grandma And often overlooked is the sad reality that many has shared is that no matter what accolades she parents and relatives of premature or critically ill achieved in curling or in life, she always counted being newborns miss out on the chance to form essential, a parent as her greatest accomplishment. early-year bonds with these children because the life- saving equipment they need simply isn’t available in And so, isn’t it fitting that the way we’ve chosen to their home community. honour her incredible legacy is by helping thousands more parents across Canada come to know their children? But, as a Sandra Schmirler Foundation donor, you’re helping us change all that – and we’ll never be able to We know she’s proud of us. And we know she’s proud thank you enough. of you, too. Of course, as part of our work with the Foundation, we Thank you for supporting the Sandra Schmirler also hear from many of the junior curlers you helped Foundation. put on the ice by supporting our “Spirit of Sandra —Sara and Jenna England, Sandra’s daughters 1 2020 Smashes Records

The 18th anniversary of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation telethon, held every year to coincide with the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, saw the annual return to its namesake’s home province of last February. When the phones finally stopped ringing in Moose Jaw, the Foundation raised a record-breaking $450,500 from 3,400 donors – topping last year’s performance by nearly $50,000! Funds raised will support the Foundation’s mission of providing life-saving, state-of-the-art medical equipment to NICUs across Canada. Over the years, telethon Canadian champions, Team Einarson, took a break from donations have helped enable the Foundation to contribute the ice to answer phones during the annual Sandra over $4.9 million to 61 hospitals across the country. Schmirler Foundation telethon.

a special supporting neonatal care in the host city. This year was no exception. The day before the telethon began, Foundation representatives were pleased to present the Moose Jaw Health Foundation with a $38,000 donation for the purchase of NICU equipment for the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital. The 2021 telethon is scheduled to be held next February during the Scotties Tournament of Hearts at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where the Foundation hopes to build on 2020’s success. However, the tournament and telethon are subject to cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll keep you posted Ashley Howard, Jenna and Saskatchewan Premier Scott as news becomes available, but please know that Moe dropped by to take pledges during the telethon. regardless of whether the 2021 telethon goes ahead as planned, the Foundation will continue to draw on The telethon, the Foundation’s single biggest Sandra’s incredible legacy to raise funds in support of fundraising event of the year, is generously premature and critically ill newborns across Canada. supported by TSN, Curling Canada and various curling clubs across the country. Without their help, it would be impossible for the telethon to be such a success each year. In addition to valued partners, telethon organizers were quick to thank the more than 100 volunteers who helped answer phones and take pledges from generous donors across Canada. Among those who volunteered their time taking pledges were Sandra’s teammates, , Joan McCusker, , Lindsay Sparkes and , as well as Sandra’s daughters Sara and Jenna, and even Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. Earlier in the year, the Government of Saskatchewan officially designated February 16, the day of the telethon, “Sandra Schmirler Day.” As long-time friends and supporters will remember, it’s Foundation representatives presented the Moose Jaw become a telethon tradition for the Foundation to make Health Foundation with a $38,000 donation. 2 You’ve Helped Award Nearly $4.9 Million to NICUs Across Canada

Since its inception in 2001, donors like you have helped the Sandra Schmirler Foundation purchase life-saving NICU equipment for 61 hospitals in every province and Yukon and Northwest Territories.

In 2020, you helped us award the following grants to support NICUs across Canada: • $10,000 to the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial • $21,397 to the Sault Area Hospital in Sault Ste. Hospital in Oakville, Ontario Marie, Ontario • $10,000 to the North Bay Regional Health Centre • $25,000 to the Humber River Hospital in North in North Bay, Ontario York, Ontario • $10,000 to the Aberdeen Regional Hospital in • $28,908 to the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Pictou County, Nova Scotia in St. Thomas, Ontario • $10,000 to the Janeway Children’s Health and • $10,000 to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in Rehabilitation Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland Orillia, Ontario and Labrador • $11,500 to the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation • $10,000 to the Yorkton Regional Health Centre in in Hamilton, Ontario Yorkton, Saskatchewan • $10,000 to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova • $10,000 to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Scotia Ontario • $10,000 to the Brandon Regional Hospital in • $10,000 to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre in Brandon, Manitoba Red Deer, Alberta • $10,000 to the Chilliwack General Hospital in • $30,000 to Regina General Hospital in Regina, Chilliwack, British Columbia Saskatchewan • $10,000 to the Regina General Hospital in Regina, • $40,000 to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan • $10,000 to the High River General Hospital in • $10,000 to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, High River, Alberta Alberta • $10,000 to the Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto, • $10,000 to Temiskaming Hospital in New Ontario Liskeard, Ontario • $6,500 to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern • $36,773 to the Manzankowski Alberta Heart Ontario in Ottawa, Ontario. Institute in Edmonton, Alberta • $23,748 to the Children’s Hospital of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Foundation grants are limited to the purchase of life-saving equipment for NICUs and cannot be used for capital campaigns or operating expenses. To receive a grant, applicants must submit a detailed proposal that outlines information about the hospital and its NICU, the equipment being requested, and a cost estimate. The Foundation also provides to support community fundraising events that are dedicated to the purchase of life-saving equipment for the local hospital newborn intensive care unit or paediatrics unit. All requests for matching funds are reviewed within 90 days after receipt of a detailed proposal. For a full breakdown of every hospital the Sandra Schmirler Foundation has supported over the years, you are invited to visit www.sandraschmirler.org and select “Your Impact.” 3 Impact Spotlight: Breagh Whelan

Breagh Whelan, now a spirited “She was so small, and we had no 17-month-old, has always done idea what was going to happen – things at her own pace. So when it’s terrifying,” she says. “I look she decided it was time to enter the back at pictures that were taken world at just 35 weeks old, there during that time and you can see was no stopping her. how scared we both looked.” Doctors tried to slow her down by Within a few hours, however, injecting her mother, Laurayne, Laurayne and Shane were able to with steroid medication, but to no hold little Breagh and, although her avail. Laurayne and her husband fight would still be a long one, she Little Breagh’s life was saved Shane were quickly transferred was able to breathe on her own. because of the NICU equipment from a small medical facility to the However, without the support of Sandra Schmirler Foundation helped Victoria General Hospital. Sandra Schmirler Foundation donors purchase at the Victoria General like you, little Breagh’s success Hospital Breagh’s early arrival came with story may not have been possible. some severe complications. Being time for the mother-daughter pair. an extra-small 3 pounds, 14 ounces, That’s because, since 2008, Every day, Breagh grew stronger. Sandra Schmirler Foundation her lungs were not yet fully “Her light shone so bright during donors have helped purchase developed. Immediately, she was those six weeks,” says Laurayne. $114,000 in NICU equipment at whisked away and intubated. “The fact that I was able to be there the Victoria General Hospital to with her – at such an important, help premature and critically ill emotional time – was a godsend for newborns like Breagh during us.” their most urgent hours. With your support, we’ve provided the Today, Breagh has caught up to her Victoria General Hospital with expected size and met all of her NICU equipment like a fetal heart key milestones. She amazes her monitor and incubator. parents daily with her strength and Thanks to the life-saving NICU determination. equipment at the Victoria General When asked what she would like Hospital, one of more than 60 to say to Foundation donors, Today, Breagh is a strong, active medical facilities to receive Laurayne is overcome with 17-month-old who amazes her Foundation support, Breagh was emotion once again. parents everyday. given a fighting chance – and “I have a hard time finding the Laurayne fights back tears when that’s all she needed. words to express what their she recalls the emotional strain Over the next six weeks, Breagh support means to us,” she says. Breagh’s earliest hours took on her and Laurayne were together in “We are just so grateful to have our and her husband, Shane. the NICU – crucial early bonding daughter. Thank you.”

Right Now, More Babies Like Breagh Need Your Help The Sandra Schmirler Foundation relies on donations from generous supporters like you to purchase the life-saving NICU equipment that gives children like little Breagh Whelan the fighting chance they need. If you are able, won’t you please consider sending a much-needed donation to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation today?

Sandra Schmirler Foundation 18 Burndale Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3Y5 • 1-866-210-6011 • sandraschmirler.org

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