Give a meaningful gift for a special occasion, mark a milestone event or honour someone's memory. March of Dimes Canada will send a card on your behalf with every one time donation to our national programs and services.
Call 1-800-263-3463 ext 7254
Mail us a completed copy of our donation form:
In Memoriam Giving Funds Include:
Tribute to Joyce Gittings
March of Dimes Canada's Non-Profit Housing Corporation is saddened by the passing of Joyce Wilma Gittings on January 1st, 2022, at her home in Mississauga.
Joyce and her husband, Ted, were married for 70 years, raising five children. Gregory, their youngest, had cerebral palsy and the couple became active advocates for programs to assist those with CP. She was an active supporter of the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy, March of Dimes Canada, Bloorview Children's Hospital, and the Canadian Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association.
Gregory was a founding resident at the Jean and Howard Caine Apartments in Oakville living there for 21 years before he passed away in 2013. The apartments, established by March of Dimes’ Non-Profit Housing Corporation in 1992, provide affordable supportive housing for people with physical disabilities, with 24 specially designed support care units to allow residents with physical needs to live safely and independently in their own homes.
The Gittings family established the Gregory Gittings Better Living Fund, administered by the Oakville Community Foundation, to pay tribute to Gregory by benefiting the residents at the Jean and Howard Caine Apartments by providing meals, entertainment, excursions, activities and other programming that enhance the mental and physical well-being of the residents.
In Memory of Dr. Sydney Gershon
March of Dimes Canada shares the loss of Dr. Sydney Gershon with his beloved family. Dr. Gershon passed away on April 30, 2018.
Dr. Gershon was an outstanding volunteer for over 40 years, providing his time and expertise as a rheumatologist to March of Dimes Canada's
Northern Medical Clinics program. Dr. Gershon generously donated his fees and he was recognized as a Pioneer of the Jonas Salk Circle of Friends, which celebrates extraordinary philanthropy. Dr. Gershon's generosity helped make make it possible for March of Dimes Canada to provide medical clinics several times a year in northern Ontario.
Dr. Gershon's family have requested that in-memoriam donations be directed to March of Dimes Canada.
Tributes have been coming to us and the following are from his fellow colleagues in the Northern Medical Clinics program:
"Sad news indeed. Syd was wonderful to work with over my 10 year tenure. Memorable flights over the years with him. Sadly missed." - Dr. Markku Nousiainen
"So sad and shocking. I’ll miss his humorous stories. He was such a gentle soul."
- Dr. Frank Mastrogiacomo
"Sincerely very sad news. I knew him from the first clinics we did together. He will be missed."
- Dr. Joel Finkelstein
"I really liked Syd. He was a nice man and a good Doc."
- Dr. Mike Ford
"Very sad to hear. Super nice man, and I'm glad I knew him."
- Dr. Dale Dantzer
"It was a pleasure getting to know him over the past 5 years. He will be missed."
- Dr. Jihad Abouali
"Dr. Gershon was such a caring, giving and gentle soul. He would try to help all patients that crossed his path, even if the issue at hand did not fall into his area of expertise. His patients loved him. He had a positive can-do attitude and a great sense of humour. We will truly miss him."
- Annie Janson, Nothern Medical Clinics Supervisor
Dr. Maxwell and Elizabeth Yan CE Fund
Elizabeth (Betty) Yan
April 17, 1923 – January 1, 2014
March of Dimes Canada lost a dear friend January 1, 2014. Betty Yan was the aunt of March of Dimes Canada past President and CEO, Andria Spindel, and was also a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Betty was instrumental in bringing Conductive Education®(CE) to Canada. It was while on a trip to Budapest, Hungary that Betty first saw the program, and was amazed at the achievements of the participants; even those with profound physical disabilities were making remarkable improvements. When she returned to Canada, she suggested that Andria introduce the program to March of Dimes. CE was initially offered to adults, and since the program’s first session in 1999, it has expanded to serving children with permanent programs in Toronto, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and sessional programs in Montreal, Quebec, Calgary, Alberta and Detroit, Michigan in the United States.
Thanks to Betty’s passion, hundreds of people living with neuro-motor disabilities have become more mobile, independent and self-confident. Betty was a devoted March of Dimes supporter, and donations can be made in her honour to the Dr. Maxwell and Elizabeth (Betty) Yan CE Fund. She will be greatly missed, but has left a wonderful legacy to her family, friends and everyone at March of Dimes Canada.
Tribute to Jan Roadhouse
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jan Roadhouse – a long time advocate for individuals living with Aphasia and friend of March of Dimes Canada. She died Monday May 12, 2014 after a battle with cancer. She was 51.
Born in Lethbridge, Alta., Ms. Roadhouse was a long time speech pathologist who worked at several facilities in southwestern Ontario including Norfolk General, St. Joseph's and Brantford General hospitals before moving to the Adult Recreation Therapy Centre. It was after completing her master of speech pathology degree in 1999 that she became passionate about helping those with aphasia.
“Jan will always be remembered as not only the key impetus for our aphasia program but for her advocacy on behalf of those living with the condition,” said Lori Santilli, executive director of the Adult Recreation Therapy Centre. “She had an idea for enhancing life adventures for those challenge with living behind the veil of aphasia and their caregivers by providing them with a camp-type experience. “She did her research, made contacts, expanded her circle of partners and turned that dream into a reality.”
Jan worked closely with March of Dimes Canada on making Aphasia Camp the wonderful success that it was. She brought the idea of camp to March of Dimes Canada and had always been very dedicated to creating programs for individuals with Aphasia. Jan truly made her dreams a reality and will be sorely missed by all that knew her.
Tribute to Jean Caine
March of Dimes Canada's Non-Profit Housing Corporation is saddened by the passing of a dear friend, Jean Caine, who passed away on January 8th, 2014 at her home in Oakville. She was 90 years old.
The Jean and Howard Caine Apartment Building was the first established by March of Dimes’ Non-Profit Housing Corporation, which was created in 1992 to develop and promote affordable supportive housing for people with physical disabilities. The 59-unit building has 24 specially designed support care units to allow more than 40 people with physical needs to live safely and independently in their own homes.
It was with the generous support of governments of all levels, federal, provincial and municipal that this apartment building was constructed, and it remains a model for all of March of Dimes’ Non-Profit Housing Corporation endeavours.
This building was named to honour Jean and Howard Caine, who along with their daughter Pamela, a polio survivor, were devoted disability advocates who dedicated their lives to promoting the need for accessible and affordable living spaces that adults with disabilities could call their own. Pamela was an inaugural member of the first Non-Profit Housing Corporation Board.
