This annual award recognizes individuals, organizations and community groups who have demonstrated outstanding philanthropic leadership benefitting Kingston’s healthcare facilities and the provision of healthcare for the people of Kingston and southeastern Ontario.
Nominations will be accepted from any member of the health care community, including staff, board and board committee members, patients, clients, residents, volunteers and donors.
Previous recipients of the award are eligible to be nominated again and can be selected for a second time if he/she is the best nominee for the award.
2025 Award Recipient: Stephen Sorensen, KidsInclusive's Kilometres for Kids Run/Walk/Roll, and Kin Club of Gananoque
Stephen Sorensen’s philanthropy is transforming patient care across the region. Stephen has championed the campaign for a second MRI machine at Breast Imaging Kingston. He also made a landmark gift to secure Kingston’s first portable MRI for KHSC’s Intensive Care Unit, offering rapid, bedside imaging for critically ill patients. He also made significant contributions to fund a second Interventional Radiology (IVR) suite at KHSC and HeartFlow (an artificial intelligence platform that quickly assesses anatomy and physiology of coronary artery disease from cardiac CT scans). Stephen’s visionary support is elevating health care in Kingston to new heights.
For nearly 30 years, KidsInclusive's Kilometres for Kids Run/Walk/Roll group has raised funds to support children with special needs and their families. The event has amassed over $460,000 to date, funding essential equipment, specialized programs, and family supports. In 2023, the event returned in-person following two virtual years, raising a record $58,000. The Kids Inclusive Run/Walk/Roll continues to make a tangible difference for families facing extraordinary challenges.
For more than 30 years, the Kin Club of Gananoque has demonstrated steadfast support for Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) and Providence Care. Despite being a service club rooted in Gananoque, the group recognizes the crucial role these facilities play for the entire region. The club’s generosity is highlighted by two major leadership gifts made in the past three years. In 2022, they contributed $50,000 to KHSC’s redevelopment campaign, followed by another significant donation in 2023 to support urgent hospital priorities. Their dedication ensures that communities benefiting from KHSC’s specialized care also have a hand in strengthening it.
Previous Recipients
- 2024Dr. Gary Burggraf
- 2024B’nai Brith Kingston Lodge
- 2024Bentley Davidson
- 2023KHSC, Volunteer Services to Hotel Dieu Hospital Site
- 2023Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP
- 2023Dr. David Cook
- 2021Rose of Hope
- 2020Limestone City Car Club; Shoppers Drug Mart; John (Jack) Keyes
- 2019Knights of Columbus, Archdiocese of Kingston Diocesan Association; Dr. Romy Nitsch, Dr. Shawna Johnston and Dr. Graeme Smith; Josée Thériault
- 2018Don Hay
- 2017Peter and Carol Davy
- 2017Royal Canadian Legion (District G Zone 1) and Ontario Provincial Command Branches and Ladies’ Auxiliaries Charitable Foundation
- 2017J.E. Agnew Food Services Ltd.
- 2016Lions Club District A3
- 2015Brit Smith
- 2015Liz Dobbs Jones
- 2015B’nai Brith
- 2014Child Development Centre Run/Walk Committee
- 2013McKenna Modler
- 2013Melo Family & Ambassador Hotel
- 2013Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation
- 2012John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation
- 2012Kinsmen Club of Kingston
- 2012Empire Life
- 2011Kids for Kids Hockey Tournament
- 2011BMO Financial Groups
- 2011Debbie and Dan Corcoran
- 2010Geraldine Tepper
- 2010Rose of Hope
- 2009Larry Gibson
- 2009Volunteer Services Hotel Dieu Hospital
- 2009KGH Auxiliary
- 2008Sally & Percy Robinson and Samuel Robinson Foundation
- 2008Sisters of Providence
- 2008RHSJ (Religious Hospitalers of St. Joseph)
- 2006Homestead Land Holdings and Brit & Sally Smith
- 2006Doug Hogeboom
- 2005RBC Financial Group
- 2005Sylvia Burkinshaw
- 2004Bill Henderson