Big Hearts for Little Hearts: How McMaster Children’s Hospital and Communities Unite to Transform Pediatric Cardiac Care in Hamilton and Beyond!

Heart health education isn’t just for medical students; it’s a lesson in empathy, community, and the power of science to change lives. Across Canada, countless children are living with congenital or acquired heart conditions, and many require specialized care that begins before they’re even born. McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton is one of the few places in Ontario equipped to provide this comprehensive, lifelong cardiac care. Now, through the Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign, powered by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and supported by MacKids, students, families, and communities have a chance to play a part in building a brighter, healthier future for young patients. At Teachers on Call, we care deeply as many of the students we tutor are directly touched by children’s health challenges, making initiatives like this both a matter of children’s well-being and a shared commitment to education and community. Keep reading for our full interview with the team behind the campaign.

Launched in February 2025, the Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign aims to raise over $3 million to create the Integrated Cardiac Health Initiative, a centre of excellence that will reimagine how heart care is delivered from womb to adolescence. This isn’t just about advanced medical technology; it’s about transforming the patient experience, training the next generation of health professionals, and uniting communities across Ontario and beyond. Our in-person and online tutoring team at Teachers on Call love to support causes that inspire students to learn about health, science, and the power of giving back, making this campaign a meaningful teaching moment both inside and outside the classroom. Check out our interview below with Sherri Bocchini, VP, Philanthropy & Partnerships at Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.

Sherri Bocchini Shares How Big Hearts for Little Hearts Is Uniting Communities and Transforming Children’s Cardiac Care

For those discovering the Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign for the first time, can you share what the campaign is all about and how it supports McMaster Children’s Hospital through Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation?

MacKids is the fundraising arm of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation dedicated to raising funds for the priorities of McMaster Children’s Hospital (1200 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5).  In February 2025, MacKids launched the Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign to raise $3 million+ to help McMaster Children’s Hospital transform care for children with heart conditions through the creation of an Integrated Cardiac Health Initiative, a visionary centre of excellence for heart health.

Deeply committed to providing transformational heart health care for patients and their families, the creation of a state-of-the-art Integrated Cardiac Health Initiative will reimagine the patient experience to fit the unique needs of patients across the different age groups served - from womb to adolescence, the full spectrum of care.

Creation of a McMaster Children’s Hospital Integrated Cardiac Health Initiative will:

• Enhance the early diagnosis and treatment and assess long-term outcomes of newborns with heart conditions as well as those with impaired heart functions.
• Transform the cardiac care experience through integrated fetal, neonatal, and pediatric cardiology and cardio diagnostic services.
• Expand system capacity through robust education, training and quality assurance programs

Funds raised through the Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign will enable:

• Family-Friendly Cardiac Care Spaces: Welcoming environments tailored to different age groups to reduce anxiety and enhance the care experience.
• Cutting-Edge Equipment: Advanced tools like echocardiography machines, cardiac output monitors, and simulation training models to ensure precise diagnosis, treatment, and training.
• Enhanced Programs & Services: Initiatives like a new Pacemaker Check Clinic, expanded 24/7 cardio diagnostic services, and a regional neonatal cardiac care network to provide comprehensive care from diagnosis to follow-up.
• Patient-Centred Innovation: A co-designed portal for patients and families to enhance communication, and integrated care programs to support children’s heart health.

We are fortunate that through the partnership of CPKC, we were selected as their primary charitable partner with opportunities to raise funds before and up to the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open being held August 20-24 at Mississauga Golf and Country Club. This is a huge kick-start and boost to our Big Hearts for Little Hearts fundraising campaign. 

Fundraising in advance of the CPKC Women’s Open are featured on our campaign website,  including the opportunity for matching funding up to August 24, 2025. At the CPKC Women’s Open there will be many fun and engaging activities for attendees to make an impact and help support the campaign at the CPKC Women’s Open. Fundraising will continue for the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Campaign after the event. Tickets can be bought here.

The 2025 campaign describes how donors are helping to “build something bigger than a hospital.” What does this phrase mean in the context of McMaster Children’s Hospital’s broader impact on families and communities?

Community support bridges the gap between government-funded operating costs, salaries, and capital project contributions, and the top tier excellence in health care that is the hallmark of Hamilton Health Sciences hospitals, including McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Community support:

• Impacts Patient Care: From life-saving treatments to compassionate support programs, your donation helps provide exceptional care to patients and their families during their most vulnerable moments.
• Advances Research and Innovation: Donations enable groundbreaking research initiatives that lead to innovative treatments, better understanding of diseases, and advancements in medical technology that save and improve lives.
• Acquires State-of-the-Art Equipment:  Advanced medical equipment is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatments. Your contributions get these tools and technologies into the hands of health care workers and improve the outcomes of their patients.
• Sponsors Education and Training: Community support helps fund education and training programs, scholarships and fellowships that allows Hamilton Health Sciences to attract and retain top talent and invest in the next generation of health care professionals.
• Goes Beyond our Hospital Doors: Through collaborations with community partners, your giving helps to address health disparities, promote preventive care, and enable community wellness initiatives that support an intersectional health care model.
• Invests in Your Community: When you donate to MacKids, part of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, you are directly supporting health care services in south-central Ontario and beyond, giving your neighbours and loved ones the best possible care in their time of need.

The campaign’s fundraising priorities include life-saving equipment, groundbreaking research, and enhanced patient care. Could you share a real-life example of how these donations make a tangible difference in a young patient’s life?

Here are three examples of what donations will help purchase for life-saving equipment and how it will impact a young patient’s life:

Ultrasound Machine

A pediatric point-of-care (POCUS) ultrasound machine is a portable ultrasound device that is designed to be lightweight and easily transported and is used by healthcare professionals to perform ultrasound scans on children at the bedside or in clinic. It allows for real-time imaging and interpretation, enabling clinicians to make rapid decisions and guide procedures without the need to send the patient to a separate imaging department.  By providing quick and accurate diagnoses, POCUS can help improve patient outcomes, reduce unnecessary procedures, and minimize radiation exposure.  The ability to perform scans at the point of care can help streamline workflows, reduce waiting times, and improve overall efficiency.  

Echocardiography Machine

A pediatric echocardiography machine, also known as a pediatric echo machine, is a specialized ultrasound machine used to create images of a child's heart. It uses sound waves to visualize the heart's structure and function, aiding in the diagnosis and management of heart conditions in children. A handheld probe called a transducer is placed on the child's chest and it emits high-frequency sound waves that bounce off the heart and return as echoes.  The echocardiography machine processes these echoes and converts them into a visual image of the heart, allowing doctors to see the heart's size, shape, and how it's working. It can assess how well the heart is pumping blood, including blood flow through the valves. It’s particularly useful for diagnosing congenital heart defects present at birth and can help evaluate conditions like heart murmurs, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Benefits of using an echo machine is that it is noninvasive (doesn't involve any surgery or radiation), it’s considered safe for children of all ages, including infants, can create detailed images of the heart's structure and function and is a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of heart conditions in children.

NIRS Advanced Monitors and Sensors

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) refers to a technology that uses near-infrared light to monitor tissue oxygenation, specifically in the brain. NIRS monitors and sensors are used to assess blood oxygen levels in the brain, helping doctors monitor conditions like cerebral oxygenation in neonates or identify tissue hypoxia in various clinical settings.  Benefits of NIRS is that it is a non-invasive technique (meaning it doesn't require surgery or needles to be used), provides continuous, real-time monitoring of brain oxygenation and the data helps doctors make informed decisions about patient care.

While McMaster Children’s Hospital is located in Hamilton, it serves children from across the province and beyond. How does the campaign unite supporters from other cities and regions across Ontario and Canada?

Because when a child in our region needs advanced cardiac care, they’re brought here. McMaster Children’s Hospital is the regional centre for pediatric cardiac care in south-central Ontario. Babies and children from across the region (including Niagara, Halton, Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Simcoe County, Guelph, and beyond) are transferred to McMaster Children’s Hospital for the specialized care they can’t receive anywhere else nearby. When it comes to pediatric heart care, McMaster Children’s Hospital is everyone’s hospital.

Lifesaving care before a baby is even born

• Every year, more than 500 families from across the region receive fetal cardiology services at McMaster Children’s Hospital. This is specialized care that allows for early detection of heart defects before birth and careful coordination of delivery and treatment.
• This regional fetal cardiology program improves outcomes for babies with complex congenital heart disease, helping families begin care with a clear plan.
  
  

Critical cardiac care for premature infants across the region

• The hospital’s NICU provides around-the-clock cardiac diagnostics, including immediate bedside echocardiography, for premature infants with serious heart complications.
• Each year, the hospital cares for about 150 preterm infants with life-threatening cardiac complications. Many of these babies are transferred from other hospitals.
• For babies facing dangerous heart-related complications right after birth, McMaster Children’s Hospital is the only destination in the region equipped to act fast.

Lifelong cardiac support for kids and teens across south-central Ontario

• Children and teens with congenital or acquired heart conditions are referred to McMaster Children’s Hospital from communities across the region to access specialized care they can’t get locally.
• The hospital’s pediatric and adolescent cardiology programs help young patients manage their condition through every stage of growth.

This year’s campaign highlights the incredible support from CPKC as a partner. Can you tell us more about their involvement and how corporate partnerships like this elevate the campaign’s impact?

“We are proud to team up with MacKids as our 2025 CPKC Women’s Open primary charitable partner to raise money that will transform pediatric cardiac care across Ontario,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “Pediatric cardiac care is a key focus of our community investment program, CPKC Has Heart, and we look forward to investing in and helping MacKids’ young hearts.”  

This year’s goal is to raise more than $2.8 million for McMaster Children’s Hospital. These funds will support the creation of the Integrated Cardiac Health Initiative, a groundbreaking centre of excellence that will enhance pediatric cardiac care from newborn to adolescent.

We understand that a Fundraising Sub-Committee made up of volunteer leaders played a major role in raising funds for Big Hearts for Little Hearts. What inspired this volunteerism, and how has their work helped drive the campaign forward?

“We are truly grateful for the exceptional volunteerism of several community leaders who are helping raise awareness about the Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign.  They are offering their time and talent because they believe in our mission and are connecting their substantial network with the opportunity to participate and engage with MacKids to make a meaningful impact to transform pediatric cardiac care at McMaster Children’s Hospital.  Lead by Volunteer Chair, Rebecca Taylor, this fundraising committee has shared the opportunity for everyone to get involved – from community groups hosting third party events such as golf tournaments to individuals making a personal donation or supporting a peer-to-peer online fundraising request to corporate partners making a donation or choosing this campaign from proceeds such as company dress down days, every dollar makes a difference.” 

- Sherri Bocchini, VP Philanthropy & Partnerships, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.

What are some ways individuals, families, workplaces, or classrooms—both in and outside the Hamilton area—can get involved and support the campaign through fundraising or awareness-building?

• Host a third party event with proceeds to support the campaign. From dress up or down days (superhero or casual clothing are fun options for both classroom or workplace) or maybe there is already a fun activity planned and you can simply choose to make an impact for Big Hearts for Little Hearts. 
• Make a direct donation to CPKC Women’s Open MacKid Champion before August 24 and CPKC will triple your donation. 
• Create a peer-to-peer fundraising page through our campaign website and reach out to your network personally to ask them to make a gift of any size to support

Share our social media and tag us:

• Instagram: @supporthhsfoundation
  
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3008561
  
  Facebook: Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation | Hamilton ON | Facebook
  
  X: x.com/hamhealth

Many educators are looking for causes to introduce to students that teach empathy, advocacy, and community giving. Do you have examples of how schools or youth groups have supported McMaster Children’s Hospital through this campaign?

Schools can share the grateful patient stories (real kids receiving cardiac care at McMaster Children’s Hospital) located on the campaign website to spark conversation about helping others. Read the stories here. 

We welcome creativity from school on how they might raise funds but a great option is hosting a superhero dress up day and asking students to raise funds (asking family and friends to donate $5 for their superhero fund) or registering as a team under the Big hearts for Little Hearts option above and sending links out to families. While this campaign is our current priority, having a superhero dress up day annually for MacKids would be amazing! There are lots of stories on our social media with photos of cheque presentations from schools sharing how they made an impact for MacKids and other hospital sites served by Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.

The name “Big Hearts for Little Hearts” is both heartfelt and powerful. What does it mean to you personally and to the families touched by this work?

“For over a decade, my family has championed support for MacKids, driven by a mission that is deeply personal.  My daughter, Zoë Peyton Smith, passed away unexpectedly just days before her 13th birthday.  Honouring her memory and with deep gratitude for the care received at McMaster Children’s Hospital – I’m committed to giving back.  I’m proud to lead the charge with my extraordinary committee of volunteer leaders to help raise over $3 million in support of the Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign.  This campaign will transform pediatric cardiac care at our children’s hospital – ensuring that families facing the unimaginable have access to the best possible care, in their time of need.  Big Hearts for Little Hearts is more than a call to action – it’s something I’ve seen come to life through the incredible generosity of my network and community.  Time and again, they’ve shown that no gift is too small when it comes to saving young lives.  Together, we can change the story for children living with heart conditions.” 

Rebecca Taylor (Chair, MacKids Big Hearts for Little Hearts Campaign and CPKC Women’s Open Fundraising Sub-Committee, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation)

What message would you like to share with people considering a donation or thinking about starting a fundraiser, especially those who may not be local but still want to support world-class pediatric care?

McMaster Children’s Hospital is one of the few places in Ontario with the specialized expertise, facilities and equipment to care for children with heart conditions. Here, cardiac care begins before birth and continues through adolescence.

• Exceptional Care: Supporting babies, kids, and teens with congenital and acquired heart conditions.
• Comprehensive Services: From diagnostics to lifelong care.
• Innovative Leadership: The hospital’s dedicated team pushes boundaries to deliver the best care possible

Your support will build the future of pediatric cardiology. Put your heart into it to help give children with heart conditions the chance to thrive.  Connect with us at Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and our community partnerships team would be pleased to brainstorm options with you. Some ideas and connections available here. 

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The Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign proves that medical innovation and community generosity can go hand in hand. Whether it’s hosting a superhero dress-up day at school, creating a peer-to-peer fundraiser, or simply sharing a patient story online, every action contributes to life-saving care for children across the province. For young people, it’s a powerful reminder that learning extends far beyond the classroom—into acts of kindness, teamwork, and problem-solving that change lives. By supporting initiatives like this, we’re not only helping to mend little hearts today, we’re teaching the next generation what it means to lead with a big heart.