Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The Sabrina & Camillo D'Alesio Foundation

The Sabrina & Camillo D’Alesio Foundation is a non-profit charitable foundation created in memory of Sabrina and Camillo D’Alesio, two children affected by Chediak–Higashi Syndrome. Based in Québec, the foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children and young patients facing serious illness. It mobilizes private donations and fundraising events, then redistributes these funds to hospitals, community organizations and specialized programs that serve children in need, mainly in Montréal, across Québec and in Canada.

The foundation’s mission focuses on children affected by medical conditions, poverty, abuse or neglect. It supports initiatives that promote the healthy emotional, economic and physical well-being of these children. This includes complementary therapies in hospitals (such as clown care, music therapy, art therapy and sensory environments), psychosocial support programs for patients and siblings, community food and poverty relief services, mental health programs, and youth development activities like sports and music education.

The "Healing with a Smile" program embodies the foundation’s philosophy of treating mind, body and spirit. Through this and other funding streams, the foundation backs projects that create positive distractions, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve quality of life for hospitalized children and their families. Its support typically takes the form of direct donations to partner institutions for specific projects, equipment purchases or program expansion.

The "Programs Funded" section of the site documents numerous beneficiaries over the years. Examples include sustained support for the Dr Clown program at Sainte-Justine and the Montreal Children’s Hospital, donations to Le Phare, a pediatric respite and palliative care centre in Québec, and substantial gifts to the hematology/oncology ward of the Montreal Children’s Hospital for entertainment equipment and a Snoezelen sensory cart. The foundation has also backed Music Therapy and Art Therapy programs, a well-siblings support group, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, and community organizations such as Share the Warmth and Resto-Vie, often specifying donation amounts and years.

Beneficiaries are primarily institutions and non-profit organizations that work directly with children: hospitals, specialized care centres, community food and poverty relief agencies, mental health organizations and youth development programs. While the foundation’s mission mentions children across Canada, its documented grants are concentrated in Montréal and the broader Québec region, reflecting a strong local impact combined with a national outlook.

The site presents the foundation as an incorporated entity with a board of directors and a clear charitable mission. Transparency is supported through detailed descriptions of funded programs, testimonials from partner organizations and acknowledgements of the concrete impact of donations. Fundraising galas and events play a central role in generating resources; a program booklet from an annual gala highlights sponsors and funded initiatives, giving donors visibility into how contributions are used. Applications are not described as open calls; instead, funding appears to be discretionary and project-based, aligned with the foundation’s mission to bring happiness and support to the most vulnerable children.