Community Highlights

Last spring, the Discovery Brunch brought together 150 young professionals over brunch in support of Sinai Health’s Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI). Hosted by Future Sinai, the event raised crucial funds for groundbreaking research tackling complex diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The funds directly support the infrastructure needed to drive medical innovation, helping LTRI scientists push boundaries in health solutions for Canadians and beyond.

The inaugural Ezras Awards celebrated Sinai Health’s volunteer leaders for their commitment to philanthropy and volunteerism. Brent Belzberg, C.M., received the Dorothy Dworkin Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing over 40 years of service. Stacey and Jonathan Gitlin and Maxine Granovsky Gluskin were all honoured with the Ben Sadowski Volunteer of the Year Award for their exceptional contributions to health care and patient advocacy. Claire and Craig Rankine earned the Rising Star Award for raising more than $625,000 for NF1 research since 2019 through the Duck and Dodge tournament. Congratulations to all!

We hosted the Annual Mount Sinai Classic last August, presented by Equitable Bank and Peerage Capital Partners at Magna Golf Club. This year marked a significant milestone as we celebrated the tournament’s 30th anniversary, a testament to the enduring legacy and impact of this event. More than $800,000 was raised in support of the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. This brings the tournament’s fundraising total to approximately $14 million — a remarkable achievement that will touch countless lives.

The Sinai Health community came together at the end of last summer to celebrate Mount Sinai Hospital’s 100th anniversary at the Gala of the Century. This unforgettable evening honoured a century of life-changing care, discovery and philanthropic milestones, raising a record-breaking $12.5 million. Fuelled by the extraordinary generosity of our community, this transformational support will propel Mount Sinai’s legacy of medical breakthroughs into the next 100 years.

Last year’s Humour Me event raised a whopping $2.7 million and gave fundraisers a chance to share the stage with professional stand-up comedians in support of Sinai Health. Hosted by David Goodman with headliner Iliza Shlesinger, the event raised much-needed funds to purchase new ultrasound machines for the Frances Bloomberg Centre for Women’s and Infants’ Health. By renewing the hospital’s ultrasound fleet, the funds will help Sinai Health deliver the highest quality of care to thousands of families each year.

Cycling enthusiasts came together this past fall for the annual Spin for Sinai event, raising an exceptional $534,000 to support research and care for those living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Founded by Stacey and Jonathan Gitlin in 2019 after Stacey was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, the event has raised more than $2.1 million to advance IBD research, fellowships and enhanced care at Sinai Health.

Leadership Sinai hosted “The pARTy” at the historic Don Jail at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital in November, marking 30 years of Leadership Sinai. This professional donor community, focused on advancing groundbreaking research at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, has raised over $21 million to date for Sinai Health. The event featured a curated collection of artwork, including pieces from Sinai Health’s own collection, uniting the community and inspiring a brighter future through art and philanthropy.

More than 260 sponsors from the Hold’em Asset Management and Real Estate industries joined forces for the annual Hold'em for Life Charity Challenge events, showcasing the power of community to support cancer research. This record-breaking year raised $5.11 million between the two events, bringing the total funds raised since the event’s inception to beyond $57 million in support of the University of Toronto’s affiliated hospitals, including Mount Sinai. The event continues to have a profound impact, supporting groundbreaking cancer research and fellowship programs.

Venture Sinai dinners bring together like-minded philanthropists who invest donor dollars into research at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI). On December 4, we held the Venture Sinai Women’s Fall Dinner, which included a panel discussion with Sinai Health’s experts in breast cancer awareness, treatment and prevention. The event was hosted by Dr. Laurel Linestsky-Fleisher, a Venture Sinai Chair since 2009, whose women’s group has raised over $600,000 in support of the LTRI.

The annual Duck and Dodge tournament raised a remarkable $105,000 for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) research at Sinai Health’s Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. Created by Claire and Craig Rankine in honour of their son, Jonathan, who was diagnosed with NF1 at eight months old, the event offers a fun and high-energy way to support those affected by this rare genetic disorder. Since 2019, Duck and Dodge has raised more than $625,000, advancing groundbreaking research to transform outcomes for NF1 patients.

The third annual Raptors for Research (RFR) 3 on 3 tournament took place on May 25th, 2025 at a brand new venue: YZD. The event saw 94 teams compete and raised over $800,000 for the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. Close to 900 people attended the event as players, fans and volunteers. Stay tuned as we look to lock in a date for year four of RFR in 2026!

Destination Kitchen is a series of exclusive dinner parties hosted by some of Toronto’s most generous philanthropists. In 2024, we set the table for Sinai Health’s third Destination Kitchen — marking a pivotal change as the event evolved into an intimate, year-round format. This new approach brought together groups of dedicated supporters to share memorable meals and inspiring conversations. To date, Destination Kitchen has raised more than $3 million in support of Sinai Health’s world-class care.