TORONTO, ON (March 7, 2022) – Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) kicks off its sixth annual Capes for Kids fundraising campaign, presented by BMO, to support kids with disabilities and their families. From March 7-13, 2022, fundraisers are asked to don superhero capes as a way to celebrate hitting their fundraising goals. The capes also function as a visual cue to help spark conversation around childhood disability and inclusion. Since 2017, the campaign has raised over $3.4 million for education, research and care at Holland Bloorview.

“We’re incredibly excited to continue the momentum of our Capes for Kids virtual event this year. Our fundraisers and their communities pulled out all the stops last year to find safe, creative and fun ways to join our cause—and we know they’ll do the same this year,” said Sandra Hawken, president and CEO, Holland Bloorview Foundation. “Kids with disabilities continue to be disproportionately affected by the pandemic and there’s never been a more important time for our incredibly dedicated donors, fundraisers and sponsors to come together to help fundraise to create a world full of possibility for children with disabilities. It’s up to all of us to ensure that we can meet their urgent needs and pave the way for a more inclusive and accessible world for all. 

Joining in on this year’s mission to raise $1 million, our most ambitious fundraising goal yet, are real-life superheroes Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz, stars of Warner Bros. Pictures Canada’s The Batman.In this short video, they’re calling on Canadians to sign up for Capes for Kids, don their red capes and help complete our mission of raising funds to create a world full of possibility for kids with disabilities.

Last year Capes for Kids exceeded its goal, raising more than $927,200, and the funds raised this year will help support research and critical hospital programs and services that include but are not limited to:

• Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), which focuses on enhancing care, developing assistive technologies, and evaluating barriers that restrict the inclusion of children with disabilities.
• The Family Support Fund, which givesfinancial aid to families for special equipment, transportation, accommodations, medications.
• The Independence Program (TIP), which gives young adults with disabilities the chance to live alone for three weeks and helps them develop valuable life skills.
• Music therapy programs, which give kids and youth the chance to be social, artistic and creative.
• Therapeutic Clowns that use music and comedy to help kids during certain procedures and therapies.
• The Spiral Garden outdoor art, garden and summer camp program, which helps kids’ imaginations bloom.

Chandra and Janette’s son, Rithwik, was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, and has lived his life with weak bones—making him more susceptible to fractures and injuries, which something like sneezing can bring on. He was an inpatient at Holland Bloorview for nearly two months where he received physiotherapy and occupational therapy along with other therapeutic recreation programs including swimming and cooking classes.

Chandra and Rithwik say Holland Bloorview “is so much more than just a hospital and that it also feels like a family.” They say the therapy and treatment Rithwik received at Holland Bloorview made him feel much more confident participating in day-to-day activities. “He also got to experience living by himself in a safe environment while at Holland Bloorview as he has never been able to go on sleepovers or other extended outings with his friends.” Adds Chandra: “We were inspired to support Capes for Kids again this year after witnessing the generosity and kindness of others who joined our fundraising efforts last year. We’re proud to be a part of Capes for Kids.”

Anyone can register to participate or donate at CapesforKids.ca. You can make your own cape or earn a Capes for Kids branded cape by raising your first $100 ($50 for children and youth). More ways to get involved:

• When you raise $1,000 you can receive a limited edition gold cape.
• Virtual scavenger hunt taking place on March 6 – fun activities and prizes for all!
• Your corporate teams will be assigned an honorary Kid Captain to help unite your team and achieve your fundraising goals!
• Virtual events-in-a-box, including a movie screening, to support your fundraising.
• Downloadable backgrounds for your Zoom calls and graphics for your social media channels.

After sunset on March 7^, the CN Tower will be lit up red in true Capes for Kids style to mark the official start of “Capes Week.” The iconic landmark, visible from across Toronto and far beyond, will serve as a beacon to unite all those fundraising for kids with disabilities at Holland Bloorview.

Capes for Kids is made possible through the generous support of donors, including Presenting Sponsor BMO, Captain Sponsor CI Financial, TD Bank Group, LEGO and other supporting sponsors Nicola Wealth, Sonnet Insurance, CIBC, AON, iMuskoka, Fat Bastard Burritos, HGC Investment Management Inc., Allied REIT, Right at Home Realty and Gluckstein Lawyers. Special thanks to media partners Aber Group, Adapt Media, Pattison Outdoor, Rogers Media, Toronto Life, Today’s Parent and the Toronto Star.

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About Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital believes in creating a world where all youth and children belong. We are the only children’s rehabilitation hospital in Canada focused on combining world-class care, transformational research, and academic leadership in the field of pediatric disability. We are a top 40 Canadian research hospital that is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. Providing both inpatient and outpatient services, Holland Bloorview is renowned for its expertise in co-creating with clients and families to provide exceptional care and is the only organization to ever achieve 100 per cent in three successive quality surveys by Accreditation Canada. Holland Bloorview is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, consistent and coordinated approach to pediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families. Together we champion a world of possibility.  For more information or to donate, please visit hollandbloorview.ca or connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and parent-blog BLOOM.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Erin Pooley
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
epooley@hollandbloorview.ca  
C: 647-406-3567