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.
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.
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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’
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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 - 2 chances to win!
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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!
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.
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
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STROBEL: SUNrise at the Village
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STROBEL: Madi’s Christmas wish
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STROBEL: Dancing in her dreams
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STROBEL: Happy ‘Disability Day’
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STROBEL: Zach’s Giant Leap
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STROBEL: Blade Runner — Variety Village kid a world track star
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STROBEL: Hit ’em straight, kids
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STROBEL: Big brotherly love at Variety Village
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STROBEL: The Great One a la cart
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STROBEL: The Great One a la cart
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STROBEL: The Joy of Food – Finally
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STROBEL: Swimming saved Ruby’s life
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STROBEL: $117,124! Sun’s Variety Village fundraiser a runaway bestseller
2020
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STROBEL: ‘Hey, Aquaman!’ Mighty mite’s dare kicks off Sun Variety Fund
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STROBEL: ‘JUST DEVASTATING’: Variety Village kids need you
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STROBEL: ‘MR. PREMIER: HELP US’: Variety Village kids collateral damage in lockdown
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‘LOCKED DOWN FOR HER BIRTHDAY’: Variety Village closure hits hard
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PLAY FAIR! Village Volt hockey stars shut out
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VARIETY VILLAGE KIDS GET A BREAK: Lockdown let-up on way
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STROBEL: From ‘baby house’ to Variety Village
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VARIETY VILLAGE: ‘I miss my piece of heaven’
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STROBEL: A Variety Village ‘fish’ out of water
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STROBEL: Variety Village lass pushes Sun Christmas drive over $50K
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STROBEL: Village ties that bind
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STROBEL: Take a bow, Sun readers
2019
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Strobel: 2020 Visions for Variety
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Strobel: Variety ambassador speaks his mind
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Strobel: Elvis Lives!…In Variety Village
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Strobel: Discovering ties that bind at Variety
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Strobel: Give Kyra and Variety Village a ‘big lift’
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Strobel: We can all learn from ‘perfect’ Emalee
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Strobel: It’s better to give
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STROBEL: Hockey heroes take to the floor
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STROBEL: A safe place for Pierce
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STROBEL: Variety Village helps ‘Q-man’ spread his wings
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STROBEL: What next, Madi, Mt. Everest?