Children's Hospital Guild of Manitoba, Outstanding Service Group
With over 200 members and over $3 million raised, the Children’s Hospital Guild of Manitoba Inc. is known for its outstanding service to the children of Winnipeg for more than 100 years. For the first 50 years of its existence the many volunteer members of the Guild funded all the functions of the Children’s Hospital -- the operations including salaries, medical supplies, capital renovations, and so much more. From the time of its opening in 1909 and until the provincial government assumed responsibility of funding for the Children’s Hospital in 1959, the Guild was the sole reason thousands of children received necessary services and care during that time.
In 1903, Annie A. Bond moved to Winnipeg and soon realized that a separate hospital was required to meet the special needs of children. At this time there were only 20 hospital beds available for children. She rallied the Local Council of Women and urged them to consider the establishment of a hospital devoted to children only. Eventually, the Council appointed a provisional board to study the advisability of a hospital such as this and stated that all funds would have to be raised by the personal efforts of the Council and their friends. This was the beginning of volunteer service and fundraising by the women of Winnipeg at that time.
On February 6, 1909 the first Winnipeg Children's Hospital opened in a three-storey home on Beaconsfield Street. Because of the many different ways to fundraise, and the growth of number of women wanting to help, the Guild was separated into different Guild groups to accommodate this expansion.
In 1911, it was decided that there was a need for a larger hospital and with the aid of some local businesses and the Guilds' fundraising projects, enough money was raised to open a new 100 bed facility on Aberdeen Avenue. The Guilds helped the Hospital meet its annual budget and raised funds for renovations, medical supplies and contributed to the salaries of a social worker and a nutritionist.
Many of their varied and different roles over the years have included being tour guides, hostesses, waitresses, gardeners, accountants, painters and they were generally thought of as "the ladies with many hats”. Although the ladies were members of different Guilds and worked at different projects for fundraising, they often banded together and worked as one large team.
In 1959, the Manitoban Government took on the responsibilities of funding the Children's Hospital For fifty years, the volunteer members of the Guild funded all the functions of the Children's Hospital -- what an incredible accomplishment. The number of children cared for because these volunteers took the time and raised the needed funds is tremendous.
The Guilds have since merged into one, forming the Children's Hospital Guild of Manitoba. The impact they continue to have is not only felt at the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba but also in the community as a whole. An example of this is the Nearly New Shop. Established in 1953 at 961 Portage Avenue, the Nearly New Shop is a place where people can recycle their gently used clothes, toys, and household items. The proceeds from this shop benefit the Children's Hospital through the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, but also provide the community who live in the core area of the city a place to shop for all their needs.
Children’s Hospital Guild of Manitoba Inc. was nominated for the Outstanding Service Group award by the Children’s Hospital of Manitoba Foundation.
Buy tickets to watch Children's Hospital Guild of Manitoba receive a Manitoba Philanthropy Award.