A Proud History - Yours ...and Ours

Our beginnings start with a group of visionary physicians and researchers creating the first National Foundation in 1952 with a $250,000 government grant from the province of Ontario.

With the emergence of British Columbia's Foundation in 1955, a network soon began to develop across the country. One year later, the Quebec and Saskatchewan Foundations were established.

In 1961 the Foundation was renamed the Canadian Heart Foundation.

Today, in an effort to more accurately reflect who we are and what we do, we are known as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada - a Federation of ten independent Provincial Foundations and one National Foundation, led and supported by a force of more than 130,000 volunteers.

Through the years and guided by visionary Canadian men and women from the Foundations, the corporate community and the community at-large, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada plays a leadership role in the study, prevention and reduction of disability and death from heart disease and stroke in Canada.

A Few Facts...

Heart disease and stroke remain the leading cause of death and disability in Canada. Recent research among the huge baby Boomer group of the Canadian population, who will reach their middle years around 2004, shows that the statistics are not likely to change.

Each Provincial Foundation raises funds through its annual February door to door campaign, the Planned Giving and In Memoriam donation programs, special events and health promotion programs such as Jump Rope for Heart and direct marketing campaigns.

The Foundation receives no core funding from government sources.

In 1998, the Foundation raised more than $85 million to support research and health promotion programs. More than 80% of donations directly support research and education programs in the province where the funds are raised. These impressive results have been made possible by the ongoing and valuable efforts of more than 130,000 volunteers and countless donors across this country.

As heart and stroke-related diseases continue to touch so many lives, your financial support also continues to grow and reach new milestones in supporting research with a cumulative total of more than half a billion dollars since 1955.