Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Vaughan in Motion for Cancer Care

Vaughan in Motion for Cancer Care is a community-based, volunteer-run registered charity located in Maple, Ontario. Since the mid-1990s it has organized signature fundraising events such as the Walk for Cancer Care, Golf for Cancer Care, Gala for Cancer Care and other community activities to generate financial support for cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery services in Southwest York Region. The organization does not fundraise for its own operations, but channels proceeds as charitable gifts to health-care institutions and cancer programs.

Over time, Vaughan in Motion has evolved from supporting the Canadian Cancer Society to directing funding to local hospitals serving the Vaughan community. Its history page documents more than $650,000 raised for the Canadian Cancer Society by 2006, followed by targeted donations to York Central Hospital for Doppler machines used in chemotherapy and a $25,000 contribution toward an MRI unit that helps detect cancers. More recently, the charity committed a landmark $1,000,000 gift to the sixth-floor Medical Surgical Inpatient Unit at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, Canada’s first smart hospital, where many cancer surgery patients recover.

The charity’s current funding priority is the Vaughan in Motion for Cancer Care Medical Surgical Inpatient Unit at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. Funds raised through events and corporate sponsorships help equip the unit with smart monitoring and treatment technologies, smart bedside tablets, and other infrastructure that create a safer, more connected and more comfortable healing environment. Past gifts also supported cancer-related diagnostic equipment at York Central Hospital, demonstrating a sustained focus on tangible improvements in cancer care capacity.

Vaughan in Motion does not operate open-call grant competitions. Instead, it acts as a philanthropic partner to specific institutions, working closely with Mackenzie Health and related hospital foundations to identify needs in oncology-related services and make designated contributions. Its role in the funding ecosystem is therefore institutional and project-based, rather than a program that accepts applications from individuals.

The organization relies on broad community engagement, including schools, local businesses and municipal leaders. Its Walk, Golf and Gala events attract numerous sponsors whose logos are showcased on the Supporters page, illustrating a strong base of corporate and civic backing. A dedicated corporate sponsorship program offers recognition and visibility in exchange for financial support, further expanding the pool of funds available for hospital gifts.

Vaughan in Motion is governed by a volunteer board that includes its co-founders, executive directors, directors and committee leads for each major event. This structure supports transparent stewardship of donated funds and ensures that fundraising activities remain aligned with the mission of providing strength, hope and concrete medical resources to people affected by cancer in the Vaughan area.