Home / The Sun Christmas Fund

The Sun Christmas Fund

Every year during the holiday season, the Toronto 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.

DONATE

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 2023 – the Sun Fund has now raised over $1.95 million dollars!

  • 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 2023 – the Sun Fund has now raised over $1.95 million dollars!

    Help us, help kids, by making a donation.

    DONATE

  • Chances to WIN!

    Prizes for the 2025 Toronto Sun Christmas Fund campaign will be available starting in November 2025.

  • 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’, memo: ‘3x Campaign’.
    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.

  • 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.

  • Buy now – Special Edition
    Embark on an epic adventure with Tulip the Brave in ‘Viking Cat,’ penned by Mike Strobel.

    Written with heartwarming courage, this saga follows Tulip’s valiant journey through the deep woods of Manitoulin Island. And with each purchase, a portion of the proceeds directly supports Variety Village, making your adventure even more impactful. Grab your copy and dive into the courageous tale of Tulip the Brave, the fearless shield-maiden of her feline world.

    Buy Now

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 15 years (three of those years after his retirement from The Toronto Sun), he has helped raise the fund total to over $1.95 million.

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.

Watch video

2024 Articles

  • A young girl (Madi) swimming in the pool

    STROBEL: Madi makes a splash

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Anything’s possible in Ben’s World

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: A village of brotherly love, Cedeno boys stand up for each other

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Remembering a fighter, Variety Village honours swimmer

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Thanks to our dazzling donors, Christmas Fund nears $2 million

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: New dog, old tricks

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Variety Village regular ‘helps make me who I am,’ brother says

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Saquib is on the run, Variety athlete breaks new ground

    Click to read

  • GUEST COLUMN: Why I love Variety Village

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Yes, Mason, there is a Santa Claus

    Click to read

  • Megan Sherwin, the first Variety Villager to be named chairkid for the Sun Christmas Fund, is seen here with Mike Strobel in 2012.

    STROBEL: Sun Christmas Fund for Variety Village tops $2M

    Click to read

  • Madi Ambos, Chairkid, Sun Christmas Fund

    STROBEL: Banner season for Sun Fund! Variety kids thank you for $125,709 boost

    Click to read

2023 Articles

  • A young girl (Madi) in a cheerleader outfit holding pom poms.

    STROBEL: Madi’s walking in a winner’s wonderland

    Click to read

  • A sisterly hug: Variety Village ambassadors, Maya Salas Martinez ,11, (in purple), with her sister Amanda Salas Martinez, 16, (in pink)

    STROBEL: Siblings of kids with disabilities special in their own way

    Click to read

  • George Guinto, 12, works out on weight machines with his dad Brian at Variety Village

    STROBEL: By George, he’s witty

    Click to read

  • Marshall Ku cannot raise his arms above his head or make a fist, which you’d think would rule out martial arts. Not at Variety Village, it doesn't.

    STROBEL: ‘I WAS BORN THIS WAY’ — Marshall Ku, 8, gets a kick out of life

    Click to read

  • A young girl in a wheelchair with her mouth open.

    STROBEL: The world according to Gavi – a girl on a mission

    Click to read

  • A woman holding a medal in front of a swimming pool.

    STROBEL: UP FROM THE DEPTHS — Ruby’s rocky road to gold

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Variety’s comeback kid making the best of a bad break

    Click to read

  • Stella

    STROBEL: UNDERSTANDING STELLA — Variety girl has her own language

    Click to read

  • a young boy wearing a hat smiling

    STROBEL: ‘MACLEAN IS MACLEAN’ – Family looks beyond Down syndrome

    Click to read

  • a young boy sitting on a 'volt hockey chair' smiling

    STROBEL: WELCOME BACK, MAVI – Variety Village a refuge in recovery

    Click to read

  • A photo of a young girl wearing glasses sitting on a red foam doing a thumbs up

    STROBEL: ‘GO, STELLA!’ Variety Village girl soars to new heights

    Click to read

  • A photo of a young boy sitting on a hospital bed

    STROBEL: Zach rolls with it

    Click to read

  • A photo of a young boy sitting on a hospital bed

    STROBEL: A.J. steps out! Variety teen walks for first time

    Click to read

  • A photo of a young boy sitting on a hospital bed

    STROBEL: STROBEL: THE CAT’S MEOW! Best ever Sun Christmas Fund raises $139,210

    Click to read

2022 Articles

  • Madi wearing a cream coloured sherpa bucket hat smiling

    STROBEL: ‘Wow, that’s a lot of money!’

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Changing the world — with his dog’s help

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: No quit in Variety kids like Comeback Zach

    Click to read

  • Variety staffer Brian Hay, left, mugs with Giacomo Bonetta at the Village. PHOTO BY JACK BOLAND /TORONTO SUN

    STROBEL: BOY WONDER: Variety kid a charming puzzle

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: It’s a small world for those with disabilities

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: The wide, wide world of Madi

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: Sisterly love on full display at Variety Village

    Click to read

  • HIS OWN BEST ADVOCATE: Variety kid on inclusion quest

    Click to read

  • STROBEL: She’s in her courageous brother’s corner

    Click to read

  • THE PEACE-MAKER: Variety girl a beacon of calm

    Click to read

  • THE WILL TO WIN: Variety teen embraces wheelchair sport

    Click to read

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