Sunnyside Foundation

Online Donations

Donate online to the Sunnyside Foundation

Online donations are the safest and easiest way to support the Sunnyside Foundation.

The Sunnyside Foundation uses Zeffy (formally SimplyK) to collect donations, the only platform for non-profits that gives us 100% of your donations. A contribution to support them will be suggested during confirmation, but it is not required to donate to the Sunnyside Foundation.

Tax receipts for online donations will be issued to you directly from SimplyK.

Other Donation Methods

If donating online is not for you, that is okay! There are plenty of ways for you to support the Sunnyside Foundation.

• Cheques:  cheques can be made out the “Sunnyside Foundation” and mailed to:

Sunnyside Foundation

247 Franklin Street North

Kitchener, ON  N2A 1Y5

• Cash: We strongly suggest that cash donations be delivered in person. To arrange, please call Jeff Burton at 519-893-8494 extension 6377.
• Credit Card: If you would like to make a donation with a credit card, online through SimplyK is the most secure way to do so. We can also process credit card donations over the phone if needed. Please call Jeff Burton at 519-893-8494 extension 6377.

Tax receipts will be issued for donations over $10.

Walk and Roll 2023

Walk and Roll 2023 will be held on Saturday, June 10

We are very excited to announce that the Sunnyside Foundation's largest and longest-running annual fundraiser Walk and Roll 2023 will return as an outdoor "fun-run" style event for residents, tenants, clients, families, friends, and more to enjoy together. Since we haven't been able to have our in-person event for the past three years, everyone is very excited for this year's event and it's shaping up to be our largest ever!

More event details coming soon!

If you are interested in being a Corporate Sponsor for this event, please contact Jeff Burton at jburton@regionofwaterloo.ca 

Say Thank You to Sunnyside Staff 

The Sunnyside Foundation is so proud of the amazing work that is being done by Sunnyside staff each and every day. 

The commitment that everyone at Sunnyside has shown to serving, protecting, and honoring older persons in the community continues to be exemplary and demonstrates that Sunnyside truly lives and works by their vision that "every person can live their best life" in the Sunnyside community.

Sunnyside staff are not allowed to accept gifts of any sort, so it sometimes can be difficult to show your appreciation for everything that they do.

The Sunnyside Foundation is offering a new way for you to say thank you and recognize those staff members who go above and beyond to help your loved ones.

With this new online form, you can donate to the Sunnyside Foundation today to officially recognize an individual staff member, a staff team, or even all Sunnyside Seniors' Services staff. Your donation will appear as a thank you message on the e-board system at Sunnyside Home which is viewed by hundreds of people each and every day.

Click here to make a donation and say thank you to a Sunnyside staff member.

Here is a sample of what your message could look like:

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Jeff Burton at jburton@regionofwaterloo.ca or by phone at 519-893-8494 extension 6377.

When you make a donation to the Sunnyside Foundation, you get to choose which fund your donation supports.

General Fund

The General Fund is where most of the Sunnyside Foundation’s large purchases come from. This includes things like:

• Funding Sunnyside Home's accreditation as the first "Butterfly" long-term care facility in the Region of Waterloo
• Ceiling lifts and other large equipment
• Supportive technology
• Seating areas such as the inter-generational space located in front of the Sunnyside Foundation office

All donations that are not specified for a different fund will be put into the General Fund.

Community Alzheimer Program

If you select the Community Alzheimer Program, your donation will go towards supporting Sunnyside’s Community Alzheimer Programs in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. In the past, these donations have been used for:

• Physical upgrades to the program (such as assisting with the new program space in Cambridge)
• Furniture and other items to help create a more home-like environment
• Technology to assist with programming
• Staff training

Walk and Roll

Walk and Roll is the Sunnyside Foundation’s largest fundraising event of the year. Held each June, Walk and Roll is a chance for the community to come together to support the older adults that are served by Sunnyside Seniors’ Services.

If you select Walk and Roll, your donation will go towards the fundraising total for that year. In 2021, Walk and Roll has raised over $38,000.00.

Pandemic and Outbreak Support Fund

Donations to the Sunnyside Foundation will help to support the purchase of items that support the health, safety and well-being of Sunnyside residents, tenants and staff such as:

• Personal protective equipment like masks, face shields, gowns, caps and gloves
• Technology that connects residents or tenants and their family or friends in the community
• Items to support residents and tenants to engage in activities that give them meaning and purpose

Spiritual Care Fund: 

Donations to this fund will go to a variety of programs and initiatives that are aimed at the spiritual wellness of all residents and their supporting people. Included might be multi-faith resources,  enhancements to religious services and the chapel space, palliative and end of life care, provision and development of resources and kits designed to enhance spiritual wellness for persons with dementia and more.

Your generous donations support:

• Residents of Sunnyside Home long term care
• Tenants of Sunnyside Supportive Housing
• Older adults in the region who use the Sunnyside Wellness Centre
• Participants in Community Alzheimer Programs and the Young Onset Dementia Association (YODA)

Since 1998, we have raised over $3.0 million in support of projects and programs for older adults.

The Sunnyside Foundation is made up of a working board of volunteer directors approved by Regional Council:

Mark Radulescu, Chair
Solicitor, Giesbrecht, Griffin, Funk & Irvine LLP

Jessica Bevenborn, Vice Chair
Broker, KW Insurance Brokers

 
Spencer Yule, Secretary
Partner/Account Executive, LMI Insurance 
 

Brandon Florizone, Treasurer
Intermediate Actuarial Analyst, Economical Mutual Insurance  

 
Carol H. Schmidt

 
Merlin McRae
Law Clerk, Madorin Snyder LLP

 
Ian Inglis
Broker of Record, Remax Solid Gold

 
Lori Strauss
Professor, PSW Coordinator, Conestoga College

Adam Hunsberger
Associate, Madorin Snyder LLP

Steve Moores
Scheduler, Paragon Security
First Aid and CPR Instructor, St. John Ambulance

• Adults in the community with a comfortable and barrier-free place to exercise at the Sunnyside Wellness Centre
• Much-needed equipment that allows residents to move with ease and comfort
• Recreation and music therapy programs and supplies
• Accessible courtyards and walkways
• Research and education that enhances quality care
• Occupational therapy and physiotherapy equipment
• Funding to support chaplaincy and palliative care programs

Through donations, Sunnyside Foundation has also made these major contributions:

• 2022: Funded Sunnyside’s certification in The Butterfly Approach, a person-centred model of care for people living with a dementia.
• 2021: Supported the development of an inter-generational outdoor space for residents and their families to enjoy
• 2021: Purchased additional ceiling lifts for resident rooms
• 2018: Supported the enhancement of the day program and overnight stay areas in the Kitchener Community Alzheimer Program
• 2017: Provided funding to train Seniors' Services staff in dementia care best practices
• 2015: Funded supplies and evaluation of the Young Onset Dementia Association (YODA)
• 2015: Funded specialized equipment including blanket and towel warmers and adjustable dining tables
• 2012: Funded Hush no Rush training program to improve the dining experience for long-term care residents with dementia
• 2011: Provided subsidies for older adults on a fixed income to receive fitness memberships and services at the Sunnyside Wellness Centre
• 2010: Built, equipped and furnished the Sunnyside Wellness Centre
• 2008: Purchased ceiling lifts for resident rooms
• 2007: Built accessible outdoor walkways and spaces

And many more!

The Sunnyside Foundation hosts several fundraising events throughout the year. Proceeds from these events support programs and services that help older adults live their best life.

 If you have questions about our fundraisers, please email us.