A birthday gift that keeps giving

In 2023, longtime donor Janis Rotman decided to mark her 60^th birthday by giving $100,000 to support Holland Bloorview’s Inpatient Experience Fund, which helps provide a welcoming and respectful environment for kids at the hospital through stress-relieving activities like music, arts and play, as well as family involvement in decision-making. It also supports the innovative Evidence to Care (EtC) hub, where hospital teams collaborate with families and scientists to create and share resources like guides and toolkits both within and beyond the hospital walls.

Thanks to support from Janis and her friends—who contributed another $39,200 to honour Janis on her birthday—the EtC team has been able to work on advocacy and system navigation materials with the hospital’s Extensive Needs Service team, and with Ambulatory Care on a model that helps bring the latest research literature to hospital teams.

“One of the fantastic things about having support for Evidence to Care is that it positions us as an embedded team that can be in the right place at the right time to support bringing evidence-based care to the bedside, and also storytelling about the incredible work happening here,” says Shauna Kingsnorth, director of Academic Affairs and Teaching and Learning at Holland Bloorview.

The fund prioritizes client family involvement through the Family Leadership Program, which provides peer-to-peer support for families navigating the healthcare system. In the past year, 38 Family Leaders completed training in courses like Facilitation for Family as Faculty, which was recognized in the Clinical Social Work journal as suitable for implementation in other organizations.

Janis’ gift also supported Holland Bloorview’s beloved Therapeutic Clowns, who bring comfort and laughter to kids in the hospital, and Music and Arts programs, which give them opportunities to paint, play music and make friends, easing their stress. This year a special collaboration brought Brain Computer Interface technology to Spiral Garden, allowing kids with severe disabilities to participate in art and gardening activities.

Janis Rotman’s inspirational generosity has been acknowledged with a thank-you video and a plaque marking a room named for her at the hospital.

“I am so happy to support programs that make the inpatient experience easier and more fun for kids at Holland Bloorview, and their families. And I’m thrilled that my friends honoured me in such a beautiful way by joining me in supporting this wonderful place.”—Janis Rotman