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The Sun Christmas Fund

Every year during the holiday season, the Sun Christmas Fund raises funds for Variety’s incredible kids, giving them the opportunity to be part of an accessible and inclusive environment where they can discover their potential – no matter their ability.

 

The Toronto Sun Christmas Fund

The annual Sun Christmas Fund was founded in 1983 to bring hope to kids with disabilities and families struggling through the holiday season. Former Toronto Sun columnist, Mike Strobel carries on the tradition each Christmas to help champion our kids, our athletes, our staff and our mission. Since its inception, and with the added donations from 2021 – the Sun Fund has now raised over $1.7 million dollars!

Take a bow, donors…

We’re starting 2022 off with (some) great news. We did it. I mean, you did it. The Sun Christmas Fund has gone over $100,000 for the first time — and then some. To be exact, $117,124.

Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario would like to thank everyone involved — The Toronto Sun, their readers, the donors, our ambassadors and of course Mike Strobel for continuing to champion our cause. With your help, we have now offically raised over $1.7 million dollars.

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Sun Fund Donor Prize Winners

Every donation was entered to win some stellar draw prizes! If you made a donation check below to see if you were a winner! If you find your name and have not been contacted yet, please email cyaccato@varietyontario.ca to claim your prize.

  • Tim Hortons Gift Card: Carla Lawson, London
    Esso Gift Card: Brian Martin, Scarborough
    Subway Gift Card: Marilyn A. Verdoold
    Remington Golf Package: Steve Menzie
    Brock Street Brewery Libation Gift Set: Evelyn McLean
    Toronto Maple Leaf Tickets, Leafs vs Florida Panthers: Tim Fryer

     

  • 65″ Samsung 4K TV: Robert Onyskiw
    Sennheiser Wireless Headphones: Sarah Humphreys
    Liberty Entertainment Gift Card: Naomi Davis
    OGIO Gift Pack: Scott Grondin
    Hockey Hall of Fame Tickets: Richard Lucey
    Hockey Hall of Fame Tickets: Walter A. Blunt
    Hockey Hall of Fame Tickets: Andrea Leatherdale

Special Edition Book by Mike Strobel ‘Small Miracles’

Written by Mike Strobel, Small Miracles is a special Edition book commemorating over 20 years of The Toronto Sun Christmas Fund highlighting inspiring stories of Variety kids overcoming obstacles.

 

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  • Prize Annoucements coming soon!

    Every donation was entered to win some stellar draw prizes:

    • 2 chances to win!
      (2) tickets for Toronto Maple Leafs, March 27, 2022 at 7:00pm – Leafs vs Florida Panthers. Value $454.00 CDN
    • (1) 65″ Samsung 4K TV, Value $1,300.00 CDN
    • (1) Liberty Entertainment Group gift card, valid at Cibo Wine Bar (King Street West, Yorkville and Yonge Street locations), Value $250.00 CDN

    MORE PRIZES > For a full list of prizing click here!
    Contest draw date: Wednesday, January 5, 2022

  • HOW TO DONATE

    • Online donation: Click here
    • Phone: (416) 699-7167
    • Mail: Variety-the Children’s Charity of Ontario, 3701 Danforth Avenue, Scarborough ON M1N 2G2

    Cheques made payable to ‘Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario’.
    Please include your full name, address and email address for tax receipting purposes.
    Please do not send cash in the mail.
    Tax receipts issued for donations of $20 or more.
    Your name may be published in the Toronto Sun Donor List.

    CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS
    Please click to read: The Toronto Sun Variety Ontario Christmas Fund Contest Rules

  • Mike wants to know!

    Mike wants to know what encouraged you to donate today. Do you have a story or personal experience related to Variety that you wish to share? Be it trying or triumphant, insightful or inspiring, we would love to read your nonfictional story or comments to be considered for mention in Mike’s column. Click below to submit your story to Mike personally. Thank you for sharing!

    Share your story

    Please note the following terms and specifications:
    To be considered for mention in the Toronto Sun publication, your story must be free of any identifying information aside from your own.
    We reserve the right to edit your story as we deem necessary or to decline to publish any story, for any reason, without notice.

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Over $1.7 Million Raised

The annual Toronto Sun Christmas Fund was founded in 1983 to bring hope to kids with disabilities and families struggling through the holiday season. The campaign now serves as a major fundraising contributor for Variety Ontario during the holiday season providing inclusive programming and services for children across Ontario.

Mike Strobel and the Toronto Sun have always gone above and beyond to shine a light on Variety Village, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario. Quirky Toronto Sun columnist, veteran writer, editor, author, and very good friend of the Village, ‘Noble’ Strobel took over the reins of the Toronto Sun Christmas Fund in 2008 after the passing of fund co-founder and sports journalist, George Gross. With Mike at the helm these past 13 years (three of those years after his retirement from The Toronto Sun), he has helped raise the fund total to over $1.6 million. Last year alone, Mike raised over $75,000!

Mike continues to help make a difference in the lives of many people with disabilities, and he has been a true champion of Variety Village, our kids, our athletes, our staff and our mission.

2021 Articles

2020

  • Madi Amos in the pool

    STROBEL: ‘Hey, Aquaman!’ Mighty mite’s dare kicks off Sun Variety Fund

    Click to read

  • An image of Madi and Victoria by the Variety Village Pool

    STROBEL: ‘JUST DEVASTATING’: Variety Village kids need you

    Click to read

  • Matt (left) and Alex Raymond PHOTO BY JESSICA RAYMOND PHOTO /Toronto Sun

    STROBEL: ‘MR. PREMIER: HELP US’: Variety Village kids collateral damage in lockdown

    Click to read

  • Victoria Illingworth and her parents, Amy and Daryl PHOTO BY SUPPLIED PHOTO /Toronto Sun

    ‘LOCKED DOWN FOR HER BIRTHDAY’: Variety Village closure hits hard

    Click to read

  • Alex Morrison, 14 (left), and Zach Rayment, 11, are pictured on Volt hockey carts at Variety Village in Toronto on Nov. 20, 2020. PHOTO BY ERNEST DOROSZUK, TORONTO SUN /Toronto Sun

    PLAY FAIR! Village Volt hockey stars shut out

    Click to read

  • Zach Rayment at Variety Village. PHOTO BY STAN BEHAL, TORONTO SUN /Toronto Sun

    VARIETY VILLAGE KIDS GET A BREAK: Lockdown let-up on way

    Click to read

  • Sophie Walks, 11, and her mom, Dr. Amanda Dyson.

    STROBEL: From ‘baby house’ to Variety Village

    Click to read

  • Kathleen Woo PHOTO BY MARILYN JANG PHOTO /Toronto Sun

    VARIETY VILLAGE: ‘I miss my piece of heaven’

    Click to read

  • Kenith "Ken" Radonicich-Ord, 11, awaits the reopening of Variety Village and its pool, which for him is therapy and a home away from home. Jennifer Radonicich photo

    STROBEL: A Variety Village ‘fish’ out of water

    Click to read

  • Kyra Menzie, 8, at a Variety Village synchro swim team practice in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 15, 2020. PHOTO BY ERNEST DOROSZUK /Toronto Sun

    STROBEL: Variety Village lass pushes Sun Christmas drive over $50K

    Click to read

  • Cameron Imrie

    STROBEL: Village ties that bind

    Click to read

  • Madison "Madi" Ambos, 7, is all smiles after the Sun Christmas Fund, of which she is 'chairkid,' raised more than $75,000 for Variety Village. PHOTO BY KATHERINE AMBOS /Submitted

    STROBEL: Take a bow, Sun readers

    Click to read

2019