The Herbie Fund
The Herbie Fund provides financial support for children from around the world to receive surgical treatment at SickKids. This charitable fund is supported by donations from corporate sponsors and the community. SickKids physicians waive their fees so every dollar raised goes straight to the cause – directly to the medical treatments that help children in need.
To date, more than 600 children from more than 88 countries have received support from the fund, obtaining specialized medical and surgical assistance that would not otherwise have been available to them.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for support from the Herbie Fund:
- Treatment must be completed before the patient’s 14th birthday
- The required treatment or procedure must be either unavailable in the patient’s country of residence, or more effectively carried out at SickKids
- Treatment must be a one-time surgical treatment only. Children requiring multiple surgical procedures are not eligible
- A responsible physician must be secured in the applicant’s home country to provide post-operative care once the child is discharged from SickKids
- The applicant and his or her family must return to their home country once discharged from SickKids
- A Canadian host must be willing to accommodate the family
- SickKids must determine that the treatment will be life-altering and have a lasting impact
- Applicants requiring the following services are not eligible for Herbie Fund assistance: Consultations/Assessment/2nd Opinions, Cancer Treatment, Kidney Dialysis, Bone Marrow, Stem Cell and Solid Organ (including Heart, Lung, Kidney, etc.) Transplantation, Rehabilitation/Developmental Delay, or Cerebral Palsy management
- It is the families responsibility to ensure that Herbie Fund children and their accompaniment acquire official travel visas prior to departure for SickKids
Should you wish to make a referral to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) – Herbie Fund for an international patient, please complete the referral form here.
