Women's Auxiliary of the Hospital for Sick Children

The Women's Auxiliary of the Hospital for Sick Children (WAV) is a Canadian nonprofit organization and registered charity dedicated to supporting The Hospital for Sick Children, commonly known as SickKids, in Toronto, Ontario. Established to provide an extra dimension of care to patients and their families, WAV also supports the hospital's clinical, research, and educational initiatives.

Mission and Vision

WAV's mission is to deliver, through direct service and fundraising efforts, enhanced care and support to SickKids patients and their families. The organization aims to complement and strengthen the hospital's programs by providing additional resources for patient care and research. WAV's vision centers on service and support to make SickKids better, emphasizing compassion, commitment, and collaboration as core values.

Activities and Impact

WAV is primarily known for operating The 5Fifty5 Shop within SickKids, a retail enterprise whose net proceeds are dedicated to funding hospital projects. Through these efforts and other fundraising activities, the organization has raised over $18 million since 1993 to support various SickKids programs, including patient care and research.

Over the past 25 years, WAV's financial contributions have enabled the funding of five research chairs at SickKids, totaling over $12 million. The organization’s volunteer base, consisting of approximately 250 active volunteers, plays a critical role in both direct service to patient families and fundraising endeavors.

Governance and Membership

WAV is a membership-based organization governed by a Board of Directors composed of its members. Volunteers have the opportunity to become members and participate in the governance and operational activities of the auxiliary.

Relationship with SickKids

As a grand benefactor of the SickKids Foundation, WAV holds a significant partnership role in advancing the hospital's mission. The auxiliary’s efforts provide vital supplementary support to SickKids, reinforcing its status as a leading pediatric healthcare and research institution affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Business Registration Number: 119302503RR0001

Website: Provided through SickKids official site (WAV section)

[1] https://www.sickkids.ca/en/careers-volunteer/volunteering/womens-auxiliary-volunteers/ [2] https://www.sickkidswav.org [3] https://www.sickkidswav.org/who-we-are [4] https://www.sickkids.ca [5] https://causes.benevity.org/causes/124-119302503RR0001