Message from the Board of Directors
A childhood cancer diagnosis brings pain, hospital visits, and sacrifice. Help a Child Smile exists to bring joy to these children and support their families.
Now in its fourthdecade, we have served thousands of families with children treated at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
Run entirely by volunteers, we receive no government funding or corporate sponsorships. Nearly every dollar raised, directly funds programs and events for our families. Many of our board members have personally faced childhood cancer, ensuring compassion and understanding guide our work.
Our mission is simple: to bring smiles and joy to children with cancer.
Thank you for your support!
Board of Directors
Amy Marshall
Chair
Ramona Durkin
Treasurer
Bertha Bertrand
Director – Family Events
Peggy Charron
Director
Chris McCullough
Director
Donna Woodruff
Vice-Chair
Agnes Ouellet
Director
Noelle Austin
Secretary
Frank Riewald
Director
Rehanna Bachan
Director – Fundraising
Nick Ferreira
Director
Michelle Graham
Director
Programs & Supports
Paid Hospital Parking
Family Events & Activities
Help A Child Smile organizes fun,
stress-free events and activities that are completely free to families for the first four years of a child’s cancer journey. After six years, a small fee may apply to some events, helping us continue offering joyful experiences to new families.
Fertility Banking
HACS Packs
Sandra Allen Memorial Education Awards
The Sandra Allen
Memorial Education Awards, generously sponsored by CanJam for Kids with Cancer, provide three $2,500 awards each year to Help A Child Smile families. Open to member children or their siblings, these awards help ease the financial burden of post-secondary education, a challenge many families face due to lost income during a child’s illness. Named in honour of longtime board chair Sandra Allen, whose leadership was instrumental in growing HACS, the awards continue her legacy of compassion and support.