#ronniesjoy
Previous Events & Projects
Montreal Children's Hospital Pediatric Medical Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds presentation, titled: Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC); Explaining the Unexplained, was given by Dr Dahlia Guttman in conjunction with Dr Declan McGuone, Neuropathologist at Yale University and SUDC foundation researcher. This was the very first grand rounds presentation on SUDC to be given outside of the United States. SUDC is unfortunately often unknown, even in the medical community. Through advocacy, awareness and education, physicians should begin to learn about SUDC and begin to feel empowered in counselling families after death and in providing appropriate medical and emotional follow up and support.
Ronnie's Chanukah cookie boxes
$4700 CAD in proceeds from the sale of Ronnie's make your own Chanukah cookie boxes, were donated to the Myra’s Kids Foundation to help send children of loss to their yearly summer camp . This camp is a free, non denominational bereavement camp for children grieving a significant death. Through a traditional, fun and high-energy camp experience, combined with grief education and emotional support, the children benefit from a safe space to connect with their feelings and allow them to open up in an environment where they can honour the memory of their special person who has died.
Creation of the Coping with Loss Committee at the Jewish General Hospital
This committee was created, at the suggestion of Dr Dahlia Guttman, JGH Emergency Department physician and founder of Ronnie's Joy Foundation. The purpose of the committee is to improve support given to families whose loved ones pass away at the Jewish General Hospital. As a first project, the committee created the Coping with Loss pamphlet which is now available for staff to give to families and includes many of the resources they may need while navigating life after their loss.
Ronnie's Fourth Birthday Fundraiser
In honour of what would have been Ronnie’s 4th Birthday, September 27, 2021, Ronnie’s Joy Foundation pledged to match all donations on this special day, up to $4000. In total, this one day fundraiser raised a little over $10 000 CAD, donated directly to the SUDC Foundation. This donation will be used to send loss related children’s books to newly bereaved SUDC siblings, continue family support services for affected SUDC families and to begin creating Canadian resource guides for medical professional, coroners and medical examiners involved in the care of SUDC deaths in Canada.
Professional development workshop about understanding childhood grief
In March 2021, Myra’s Kids Foundation, in conjunction with Dahlia, of Ronnie’s Joy Foundation, organized a fully accredited professional half day workshop for mental and health care professionals to further their understanding of childhood grief and guide them as they best support bereaved families in their professional practice.
Team Ronnie Joy rides to raise funds for cancer research
In summer 2020, Ronnie's Joy Foundation created TEAM RONNIE JOY and completed a bike challenge raising money for children's cancer research through the SickKids Hospital Foundation in Toronto. Over 20 children under the age of 12 joined Team Ronnie Joy and participated in the event .This challenge was such a success that it inspired us to do something similar for Ronnie's Joy Ride this year!
Virtual Dance Party with Starlight Children's Foundation of Canada
A virtual dance party inspired by Ronnie's love of music, in which the Starlight children across Canada received a personalized package with age appropriate musical instruments to play with during the show.
Virtual Day at the Zoo with Starlight Children's Foundation of Canada
A virtual day at the zoo in memory of Ronnie on her 3rd birthday, inspired by her love of animals. Ronnie's family, along with the Starlight team led and then streamed an up close and personal encounter with the animals at the Saunders Country Zoo. The Starlight children and their families learned about the animals and watched as we fed parrots and lemurs, saw a live porcupine and even pet a real baby kangaroo!