November 23, 2022
On November 3rd, Tech4SickKids hosted its second annual virtual auction. For the second consecutive year, the auction was hosted by entrepreneur Amber Mac alongside Tech4SickKids’ co-chair Fatima Zaidi. This year’s auction raised $50,755 CAD, bringing the total raised from both virtual auctions to $110,000. Of the $50,755 raised, $40,050 came in the form of direct donations. The remaining $10,705 came from sold items and services from donor organizations including a date night package valued at $700 from Betakit, a Prince Edward County getaway valued at $1,000 from Willful and a UX audit valued at $8,000 from Brainhub.
Tech4SickKids’s goal is to raise $25 million by 2023 to modernize Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Fatima Zaidi said, “Tech4SickKids are a group of individuals who are passionate about tech and how it can improve lives in a tangible way.” As part of the organization’s goal, Tech4SickKids plans to outfit SickKids with the latest medical technologies, including an Artificial Intelligence in Medicine for Kids initiative. This initiative will create a resource hub to lead AI projects, as well as building emergency rooms in the hospital equipped to use technology and AI to deliver better health outcomes for kids.
Tech4SickKids noted that the upgrades are something that SickKids desperately needs. On SickKids’ campaign page it is written, “we are also fighting against the limits of a 70-year-old hospital where parts of the building don’t meet modern building codes […] We need buildings that lift – not limit – our ability to care for patients.” With the contributions of the Tech4SickKids auction, in addition to numerous other efforts, SickKids hopes to build a new state-of-the-art hospital on University Avenue.
Cole Brown