SANDRA SCHMIRLER FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT

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1 SANDRA SCHMIRLER FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT

2 ABOUT SANDRA SCHMIRLER Sometimes in sports, athletes are put up on a pedestal because of greatness. However, beyond their contributions as athletes, it is their contribution as people that make these individuals great. When we think of Sandra Schmirler, we are impressed not only with what she did in her pursuit of athletic excellence and how she defined herself as a winner, but what she contributed to others beyond winning world championships and gold medals. Sadly, Sandra died in 2000 at the age of 36, leaving behind her loving husband, Shannon, and her two young daughters Sara & Jenna. Sandra is remembered not only for her athletic prowess, but also for her leadership, humility, and love of family. She continually strived for excellence, finding a balance between her athletic pursuits and being a mother to her daughters. Despite all of her athletic greatness, Sandra realized that having time to spend with her family and her friends was the greatest gift of all. THE SANDRA SCHMIRLER FOUNDATION The Sandra Schmirler Foundation was created in January 2001 as a legacy to the sports hero and curling champion, Sandra Schmirler, in recognition and celebration of her love of family. The idea and its reality was a collaborative effort by the Canadian Curling Association, Kruger Products Limited (formerly Scott Paper Limited and founding sponsor of The Scotties Tournament of Hearts), family and friends. The Sandra Schmirler Foundation pledges to ensure that Sandra s legacy continues. Our mission: Caring for babies in crisis through direct giving to neonatal care across Canada. Gifts and grants are provided to hospitals in order to upgrade their neonatal units. Fundraising activities include an annual telethon, crowd sweeps at Season of Champions events, golf tournaments held across Canada, and local curling club initiatives. In addition, there are a number of partnerships with business and organizations, which raise funds on behalf of the Foundation.

3 CHAIR S MESSAGE Report from the Chairman of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation Board Al Hodgins I would like to thank my fellow s for their steadfast and ongoing support of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation over the past year. Their time, commitment, knowledge, special gifts and talents further what is already a successful organization. It has been a great pleasure to Chair the Board of what I believe is one of the greatest little foundations in Canada! In 2010, our total revenues reached an all time high of $732,000. This significant achievement is $101,000 more than 2009 ($631,000), $230,000 more than 2008 ($502,000) and $253,000 more than 2007 ($479,000. This is impressive growth! This is significant growth! As a Board. we have made some significant decisions on behalf of the Foundation in the past couple of years. Fundamentally, we decided that we would decrease our focus on event driven fundraising activities. While we decided we would continue to support those events that were already in existence as best we could, we would not begin any new events. It became clear to us that our current infrastructure and support staff could not successfully co-ordinate and participate in these events. Even as a Board, we struggle to represent the Foundation at each of the fund raising events that held in Sandra s name throughout the year and we unfortunately disappoint some of our fundraising champions. I take this opportunity to thank each of the individuals who continue to champion these events on behalf of the Foundation! Secondly, we decided to focus our fundraising efforts on the curling community as opposed to events and the pursuit of corporate sponsorship. This allowed us to direct our resources and efforts to maximise the results of our annual telethon and to have s raise funds on an individual basis. This proved to be a resounding success in 2010 with the majority of our total income being raised during the one-day event nationally televised on TSN. In addition, I m pleased to say that every and staff member is a donor to the Foundation. These outstanding results came as a direct result of a new public service announcement; a more specific ask in the amount of $100; a stunning pin which was awarded to donors who gifted $100 or more to the Foundation; and the tremendous support we received from TSN, their on air talent and behind the scenes production staff. None of this could happen without the generous and significant gifting of national broadcast airtime courtesy of TSN, the CCA and all their Season of Champions sponsors. Working together, we were able to focus our time, energy and resources on one major event as opposed to splintering off in multi-directions. The results speak for themselves. Almost $300,000 raised and almost 3000 pins given away to 3250 donors. An impressive 55% of our donors gave $100 or more. Most importantly, close to $400,000 was raised to give to hospitals throughout Canada, benefiting hundreds of pre-mature and critically ill babies born this past year. We were very pleased that donations were made to four hospitals in locations where we have not donated before. This brings us closer to achieving our goal of donating to every level three Neonatal ward in Canada This Board, through its advisors, continued to nurture and grow an endowment fund, which now exceeds $1.1 million and serves to provide a financial cushion to the Foundation. This fund may at some time in the future help provide the funding for a state of the art Neonatal facility in Sandra s name. Or, perhaps scholarships for young medical students who specialize in neonatal care. Regardless of what future Boards may decide. we know is that this fund is a great insurance policy However, with all that fanfare, I must say it again: good, very good, but I think Sandra would say - Not good enough! We know there are 750,000 Canadians who curl each year. I cannot accept that getting 3200 curlers to donate an average of $100 is really a reason to celebrate. There are over 3.5 million Canadians who

4 watch and follow the sport of curling and I take this opportunity to remind my fellow s and future Boards that receiving just twenty-five cents from each of these fans would generate $875,000 in income to the Foundation each year. That is about 20% more than we raised in total this year. Clearly, our work is hardly complete. In fact, it has just begun. With 3.5 million curling fans in Canada, and an average of four persons per household, 875,000 households might consider sending us an average of $100. That would equate to $87,500,000. Now that would be a reason to celebrate! In yet another record setting year, I pause to recognise and acknowledge Shannon England s involvement in carrying the Olympic Torch. Knowing Shannon, his, and Sandra s children, I am so impressed with how he balances it all. Shannon, I personally thank you for your continued commitment to the Foundation. I look forward to the day when Sara and Jenna serve as s and in doing so have the opportunity to further their own mother s legacy! I also want to recognise and thank Bill Tschirhart for the opportunity for the Foundation to be part of the A Pane in the Glass publication, which I m sure, will be enjoyed by players and coaches for years to come. Here s hoping this book is a best seller in the curling community and that many of the readers sign the long-term donor cards that are enclosed. We know that the number of premature births in Canada has increased significantly in the last 20 years, primarily because women are having babies later in life and the increased use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) produces many more multiple births and therefore lower weight babies. Substance abuse, eating disorders, infections, high blood pressure, trauma, chromosomal abnormalities and other health issues are also contributing to this increase. According to The Canadian Institute for Health Information, since 2001, the percentage of low birth weight babies has risen from 5.7% to 6.2% of live births. These babies have immature hearts, lungs, gastrointestinal tracts, kidneys, and so on, that require special equipment and neonatal staff training. Let s be clear, this is why we exist. This is our purpose and this is why the Sandra Schmirler Foundation is so relevant we are the only non-profit in Canada dedicated solely to neonatal care. I believe Sandra would be very proud of what we are all trying to do, she would be equally proud of what has been accomplished - but she would also want us to continue to build this Foundation and take it to the next level. I ve been honoured to Chair the Sandra Schmirler Foundation for the past two years and it is my pleasure to take this opportunity to welcome Jody Meli as the new Chairwoman. I am certain that under her guidance and leadership the very best is yet to come! Sincerely, Alan L. Hodgins Chair Sandra Schmirler Foundation BOARD OF TRUSTEES Alan L. Hodgins Chair Jody Meli Vice Chair Theresa Breen Shannon England Allan W. Gilchrist John McPherson

5 Secretary-Treasurer Dianne Barker Gordon Durnan Fran Todd ADVISORY BOARD Lindsay Sparkes Greg Stremlaw Robin Wilson HONOURARY AMBASSADORS Jan Betker Marcia Gudereit Joan McCusker HONOURARY DIRECTOR Anne Merklinger FOUNDATION STAFF Francine Poisson, Fundraising/Marketing Coordinator JoAnne Viau, Administrative Coordinator

6 FUNDRAISING PROJECTS SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES Roar of the Rings/Tim Hortons Curling Trials Edmonton, Alberta $30,552 Scott Tournament of Hearts Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario: Crowd sweep $9,749 Tim Hortons Brier Halifax, Nova Scotia: Crowd sweep $17,806 Ford Women s World Curling Championship Swift Current, Saskatchewan: Crowd sweep $7,479 Golf Tournaments: Sandra Schmirler Golf Classic Richmond Hill, Ontario Sandra Schmirler Manitoba Golf Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba CTV Sandra Schmirler Charity Golf Classic Regina, Saskatchewan Value Drug Mart Golf Tournament Edmonton, Alberta $76,155 Kurl for Kids Celebrity Bonspiel Tam Heather Curling Club, Toronto, Ontario Kurl for Kids is a celebrity bonspiel, where World, National and Provincial Champion Curlers combine with local curlers from across Central-Southern Ontario to curl in a spirit of camaraderie and giving, to raise money in support of The Sandra Schmirler Foundation. (Note: amount not finalized at time of printing approximate annual revenue $35,000) $5,298 Kurling for Kids Bonspiels held at Montreal and surrounding area curling clubs, Montreal, Quebec $167,145 Hand in Hand and Champions Start Small Pins $4,150 Telethon $286,155 Curling Club Challenge $20,265 HOSPITALS RECEIVING HELP IN Hôpital Sainte-Justine Montréal, QC $84,573 Montreal Children s Hospital Foundation Montréal, QC $82,572 Royal University Hospital Foundation Calgary, AB $52,300 Stollery Children s Hospital Foundation Edmonton, AB $50,693 IWK Health Care Foundation Halifax, NS $50,000 Rouge Valley Health System Toronto, ON $40,000 Sault Area Hospital Foundation Sault Ste. Marie, ON $29,621 $389,759 Sandra Schmirler Foundation 1660 Vimont Court Cumberland, Ontario K4A 4J4 Tel