Programming For Everybody Made Possible By You And The Sun Christmas Fund

This year we saw great leaps and bounds with our individual members and their families. Variety-the Children’s Charity Ontario/Variety Village is truly for everybody and we wanted to note what an incredible year we had with the help from our donors and The Sun Christmas Fund. The specialized programming made available at Variety provides an inclusive and assessable space for the entire family to enjoy. At Variety, families shine brighter together. A great example of this is the story of two brothers learning Taekwondo; one of the two young athletes is on the Autism Spectrum and together they train for their belts alongside one another, building confidence and a special brotherly connection. Martial Arts is only one of the many sports and activities offered to children with disabilities, and their family members at Variety. Our famous swimming teams, the Sunshine and the Flames, train out of our state-of-the-art pool. It is here, the competitive swim teams practice, and gather for swim meets giving athletes who train hard all year long a chance to show what they are made of. With the coaching staff committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all the participants, helping them succeed and launching their journey as athletes who often go on to compete at a national and global level. It is important to note that Variety has had a coach or athlete in almost every Paralympic since their respective inception.

Monumental accomplishments have been made but there is so much more to take on to ensure everybody feels as if they belong and barriers for participation are knocked down to more open doors for families in sport, school and life. Through the generous support of The Sun Christmas Fund (Post Media), by way of celebrated journalist and longtime friend and advocate Mike Strobel, we celebrate families and individuals by sticking to our mission and mandate or funding programs that lay the foundation for building life skills and that transcend just sport but building leadership skills that transcend into jobs and opportunities for children with disabilities. It’s places like Variety that have offered a place for those living with loved ones with a disability to join them on their journeys through health, wellness and community. As mentioned, we know this from the inspiring stories told by Mike Strobel, the inspiring individual who has spearheaded The Sun Christmas Fund for over 25 years. Mike will take you more in depth into the lives and stories of the families and individuals we mention above. You can learn more about the impact the Sun Christmas Fund has made here: www.sunchristmasfund.ca. This past year The Sun Christmas Fund achieved 2 million dollars since its inception in 1983. With Mike Strobel at the ready with his pen, the future of The Toronto Sun Christmas Fund now holds a lofty 3 million dollar goal to reach and level up the accessibility at Variety. The supportive and safe environment creates opportunities for kids to explore their potential without limitations. Helping kids get off the sidelines and into the game. And with the new goal in mind, we must note that there has been a recent set back with the Canadian Postal Strike, now more than ever, The Toronto Sun Christmas Fund needs your help. The challenges faced by the direct mail campaign have caused a significant delay in our 2024 donations. There is hope however in the horizon as the Government of Canada is aiming to extend the tax deadline to permit charitable donations up to February 28, 2025. If you had held back sending in your donation, we urge you to consider the needs of our families and members and donate today as we have this gift of time upon us.

With new leadership and expertise in sports and recreational management we welcome Charlie Johnstone on his journey to creating a barrier – free and equitable world that opens more doors to participation and inclusivity for those living with disabilities in sport and life. With your continued support, we can expand our reach and create even more opportunities for individuals of all abilities. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events and programs by following us on social media or visiting our website.