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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.

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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 2022 – the Sun Fund has now raised over $1.8 million dollars!

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 $1.8 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.

  • Chances to WIN…

    With every donation you are entered to win some stellar draw prizes, it’s a win-win!

    • Toronto Blue Jays Tickets
    • Hockey Hall of Fame Tickets
    • Golf Prize Packs
    • Gift Cards & more!

    Contest draw date: January 5, 2024

  • 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 2023
    Toronto Sun Fund Contest Mini Rules 2023

  • 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.

Watch video

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

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