Providing accommodation for families whose children are undergoing treatment at Sick Kids

• The Hospital for Sick Children, affectionately called Sick Kids, is one of the largest pediatric academic health science centers in the world, with an international reputation for excellence in health care, research and teaching.
• Sick Kids receives patients from 77 countries around the world and offers families support services such as accommodation during their challenging time in Toronto through several types of accommodations, including hotels, residences, apartments and Ronald McDonald house.
• Recent conditions and aging or inaccessible facilities have created increased pressure on Sick Kids ability to provide appropriate accommodation for families in need, notably those requiring longer stays.
• The Sick Kids Foundation has presented an opportunity for CoreNet Global volunteers to develop a Real Estate strategy for their family accommodation needs with the primary focus on establishing a new facility for their long stay requirements. In concert with Sick Kids Foundation's corporate giving program, CoreNet is providing the much needed professional services and volunteer effort to make this project a reality.
• CoreNet Global Toronto's commitment to Sick Kids is multi-phased, from developing the Real Estate and Funding strategy to supporting the implementation effort with professional services, in kind donations and volunteer labour. Several CoreNet Global events throughout the year contributed to CRC's sustaining objective, with the 2005 Summit in Toronto providing increased visibility and participation across CoreNet Global s membership.

A key need within the Family Accommodation objectives was to provide appropriate green space for the families and patients during their stay at the hospital. Neither the hospital nor the current accommodation options provide outdoor green space that families or patients can enjoy. The Summit Project focused on isolating the green space requirements from the overall accommodation strategy and implementing a comprehensive hard and soft landscaping project on the hospital grounds to fulfill the green space need.

The project will consisted of:

• Creating a master plan of hard and soft landscaping with a family/child focus for several public and semi-public areas.
• Approval of Sick Kids of design plans
• Sponsorship and in kind donations
• Preparation activities, including on site pre-work, of Toronto chapter volunteers (pre-Summit)
• On site activity April 15-17 for Summit attendees
  • On-site activity on April 16 at the hospital (lunch, tour)
  • Media coverage for CoreNet Global CRC