Noses Therapeutic Clowns are joined by (clockwise) Mark Dailey,

Volume #2 - Winter / Spring - 2006 Blair Rossen and Fred Smith of the Parbusters?

A Tribute to Our Oldest Friends

Dear Friends:
Welcome back to Noses Off and a big clown
hello from all of us here at The Therapeutic Clown
Program at SickKids! We send a special greeting to
our new friends and supporters and a sincere thank
you to each and every one of you who continue to
improve the quality of sick childrens lives through
your loyal support of our program.
There is not a day that goes by that we are not
grateful for the ability to touch these young lives
and make a difference. And not a day that we are
not thankful for each of you. We couldnt make a
difference without you. For the past 12 years we
have counted on people like you to help us bring
light hearts and healing play to an increasing
number of sick and injured children. Today, we
have six therapeutic clowns at SickKids one on
each inpatient floor and one in outpatient clinics.
In April we expect that number to be seven, and
will be increasing our core group to eight by the
end of our next fiscal year. You have made this
growth possible. It is because of you that we are
now able to brighten the days for thousands more
seriously ill and injured children. We hope that
brings a smile to you as well.
In this edition of Noses Off we are proud to pay
tribute to several of our oldest and dearest sup-
porters Fred Smith, Les Major, Blair Rossen of
Upcoming Spring Events
Clown High Tea Donor Recognition Day Light Hearts~Healing Play Level II Work-
Tuesday March 21, 2006. Between 4 and 6 oclock, The shop Spring 2006
Garden Patio in The Atrium at SickKids.
Crepes for Clowns
7:30 am Tuesday May 9, 2006
A Breakfast in Support of The Therapeutic Clown
Program Mark this on your calendars! More informa- atric Cancer Research May 2, 2006. 416-635-0067.
tion to follow.
The Parbusters?, who have been around since the
early years; Brenda, David and the Dimitry fam-
ily who in honour of daughter and sister Carrie,
created Carries Dream Fund more than six years
ago; and Hilary, Bernie and the Prusznowskis
who have been honouring their son and brothers
memory through Adams Dream Fund for the
past nine years. We would also like to introduce
you to the Weinbergs in our Donor Profile feature
their ongoing involvement in and hands-on
help with our program is greatly appreciated.
Thank you, on behalf of our patients and their
families and everyone here at Clown Central.
Together, you continue to make it possible for us
to bring happiness and comfort into the lives of so
many young people.
Best Clown Wishes,
M. Joan Barrington Wanda Buchanan all 7-year-olds do until October
Co-ordinator Communications &
Development
P.S.You will find enclosed an invitation to join
us for Clown High Tea on March 21, from 46.
We hope to see you there!
Visit www.sickkids.ca/
therapeuticclownprogram for more info.
Adams Dream Fund
Supporting The Therapeutic Clown Program and Pedi-
The Parbusters?
For the past 10 years The Parbusters? under the leader-
ship of Fred Smith, Les Major and Blair Rossen, have hit a
hole in one for sick children and The Therapeutic Clown
Program at SickKids. This group of fun-loving golfers
who in their own words possess more spirit than skill
began 51 years ago. Fred, who was there at the begin-
ning, says that while they never stood a chance at win-
ning first, or in fact, any prizes at the tournaments they
were playing in each year, knew they stood a chance
at doing good for people in need. The Parbusters?
fun-loving sportsmanship continues to contribute both
financially and through increased awareness of The
Therapeutic Clown Program at SickKids. Thank you Fred,
Les, Blair and the Parbusters?.
Adams Dream Fund
was established in loving
memory and tribute to Adam
Prusznowski, a high-spirited
little boy with an incredible zest
for life. Adam did the things that
15, 1993, when he was stricken
with a deadly form of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma-Can-
cer. Within 24 hours Adam went from an energetic,
rambunctious kid to a frightened and desperately ill
child. It was then that Adams parents were to learn
from Adam how to compact a lifetime into 10 short
weeks and leave behind a legacy. When he was his most
vulnerable, the treatment worse than the disease, Adam
reached out to others and brought them closer to him.
He demonstrated an incredible strength, heightened
by his ability to love. Through all he endured, Adams
thoughts were with the children that were around
him. His greatest wish was to return to the hospital
when he was well, to help the children. When Adam
was unable to verbalize his feelings at the height of his
illness, therapeutic clowns came and lifted his spirits.
Over the past nine years, Adams Dream Fund has
helped make it possible for The Therapeutic Clown
Program at SickKids to live Adams dream of helping the
children. Thank you Hilary, Bernie, Leah and Jessica.

Carries Dream Fund

The Therapeutic Clown Program
Endowment Fund
Beginning April 1st we will be including The
Therapeutic Clown Program Endowment Fund in
our fundraising efforts. By creating this fund we
seek to ensure that children are provided with light
hearts and healing play for generations to come.
Noses Off is a publication of The Therapeutic
Clown Program at SickKids, located at 555 University
Ave. 4th Floor Black Wing Toronto M5G 1X8, and is
published twice a year for donors, volunteers and staff.
Light Hearts Healing Play Since 1993
is a loving tribute to Carrie
Dimitry who died on July 12,
1995. Carries dream was to see
many clowns visiting all the sick
children at SickKids. Carrie, if you
ask anyone who knew her, was a
child full of smiles and hugs. Qui-
etly brave and determined to overcome the obstacles of
living with Familial Dysautonomia (cont. on back)

Each month over 1,000 children will be treated for serious illness or injury at Sick-
Kids. With your help, these children will also be cared for by a therapeutic clown
practitioner a specially trained member of the healthcare team who, through
clown, brings light hearts and healing play to sick children when they need it
most.
Therapeutic clowns are caring playmates who provide comfort, emotional and
medical support to children and their families during long term illness and injury.
Through gentle humour, they remind children that they are still children with
a right to play.
You can help Bunky, Choola, Clutter, Doko, Loo Loo, Mary Sunshine and Nuula
put a smile on sick childrens faces every month of the year by joining our Smiles
Club. By donating monthly you are making a lasting investment in the lives of the
children we care for, showing that you really care. Please see the reverse side of
this tear-off to make your contribution.

It costs only approximately $12 for one child to receive a therapeutic clown visit.
www.sickkids.ca/therapeuticclownprogram
(cont. from front) (Riley-Day Syndrome), she loved going
to school and her many friends. She learned to ride a
horse and enjoyed reading, movies, drawing, computer
games and very bad jokes. Carrie touched everyone
she met with generosity, compassion and love. She
continues to touch our clown lives and the lives of sick
children through Carries Dream Fund. Our heartfelt
thanks to Brenda, David, Amanda and Matt.
Two New Therapeutic Clowns to
Make Us the Group of Seven!
Heidi Firby and Annie Alexander join the team as
our newest therapeutic clown practitioners. Heidi
brings Loo Loo to outpatient clinics every Tuesday
and Clutter delights patients and families on the
4th floor each Tuesday and Thursday.
Lucia Cino is returning from sabbatical in the
spring to bring Nuula to the 6th floor making our
company seven members strong!

an excerpt from

The Clown Journals Therapeutic Clowns (clockwise from top), Loo Loo, Choola, Bunky,
Mary Sunshines Friend Amit Clutter, Mary Sunshine, Doko

Donor Profile
Meet The Weinberg Family
In 2005 the Weinbergs a family with special affection
for and connection to The Hospital for Sick Children
visited The Therapeutic Clown Program. Joy Cherry
Weinberg, her daughters Deena Weinberg Sussman and
Sari Weinberg Binder, and her sons Barry and Joel, had
chosen to make a substantial donation to our program
as a tribute to the late Dr. Fred Weinberg. Dr. Weinberg
was the first Jewish Chief Resident at SickKids. With a
special interest in the behavioural field he became As-
sociate Medical Director, Child Development Clinic, Divi-
sion of Neurology in 1974. We are honoured to continue
to keep Dr. Weinbergs spirit alive through our program.
Thank you Joy, Deena, Sari, Barry and Joel. Your support
is felt and appreciated in so many ways.
Kids Helping Kids with
Clown Nose Day
Students from kindergarten to grade 8 and their teach-
ers at Leo Baeck Day School celebrated Clown Nose Day
on February 7th raising funds for and awareness of
The Therapeutic Clown Program at SickKids! Thank you
to Principal Eric Petersiel, Director David Prashker, staff
members Pauline Landon, Debra Epstein-Franks and
Amy Platt and parent Deena Weinberg for opening Leo
Baecks door and heart to sick kids. We especially send
a huge clown thank you to all the kids the grade
8s did a superb job leading this event to success. Our
Noses Off to you!
The Women Auxiliary at
The Hospital for Sick Children
Adopts A Clown!
Thank you Marilyn and all the wonderful women who
work so hard to support the mission of SickKids. Your
adoption of Choola means that hundreds of children on
the 7th floor will be guaranteed therapeutic clown visits
this year.
I met Amit shortly after his first visit to the 8th
Floor. We had an instant connection. Eager to get
to know me and full of demands, he was easy to
get to know. One day as I was playing with another
child I heard a page overhead, Mary Sunshine,
come to the Nursing station Mary Sunshine.
I reported at the desk immediately to quickly
learn that Amit had been admitted a few days
earlier to another floor. I needed to see him ASAP.
My heart raced, was something going wrong with
Amit? I had never been called away to see a child.
I took a deep breath and approached his room.
As I peeked around the corner he was sitting up
in bed, bright eyed and playing with Choola my
sister clown. When Amit saw me he gave an
authoritative look, pointed at me and said, There
Other News
The Robo Award
Joan Barrington, aka Bunky is co-recipient of The Robo
Award for therapeutic clowning, 2005 sponsored by
Longwoods Publishing. Joan has been bringing Bunkys
compassion, caring and support to sick kids for over 12
years. Paul Hoosen, aka Doc Willikers of Vancouver shares
this award with Joan.
Clown Carolling December 19th
This year also marked our second year of clown carolling
bringing light hearts, healing play and melodious
silliness in the spirit of the holiday season to patients,
families, and staff.
The Ontario Health Associations
Health Achieve Conference
Joan Barrington and Helen Donnelly (aka Choola),
presented Partners in Healing at this years Ontario
Health Association Conference, October 31. This 3-hour
presentation workshop examined the impact of thera-
peutic clowning on the psychosocial well being of young
patients. Participants at the conference discovered how
therapeutic clown practitioners, in building relationships
with children and staff, enhance the medical goals of
the inter-professional team at SickKids to bring the best
family centred care to all patients. Erin Boyle-McBride,
you are Mary Sunshine! Where have you been?
Magic wand please.
Apparently, he had been asking for me for two
days and wasnt about to forget about seeing me.
According to his mom, I help Amit settle in each
time that he comes to SickKids. His first question
is always, Will Mary Sunshine be there?
Its wonderful to have Amits trust and to be
able to help care for him. He has Mary Sunshines
picture taped to his hospital bed, carries one in
the car with him and keeps one in his bedroom
at home. There are days when I find myself at Sick-
Kids wondering, Will Amit be there?
As we continue this journey together, I know
our bond is sealed.
Child Life Specialist, joined Joan and Helen, supporting
the benefits of therapeutic clowning in relationship to
child lifes goals.
Clown Nose Day December 6, 2005
The magic of therapeutic clowning spread throughout
the hospital this past December 6 as we celebrated our
2nd Annual Clown Nose Day. We kicked off the day with
a special story time in the reading room before a live
audience, broadcast to all patient rooms. A fabulous Ther-
apeutic Clown Parade at noon complete with kazoos
and ukele brought smiles and play to children, staff
and families in the Atrium, corridors and the Food Court.
A TCP poster launch and signing, group clown visits and
our Clown Nose Drive in support of the program made
the day complete it was great to see so many patients
and visitors sporting the clown nose! Thank you to Jen-
nifer Graham, Ann Kedwell and Barbara Liepner for your
volunteer resources. Many thanks to Janice OBorn and
The Printing House for the posters and to The Womens
Auxiliary for making sales possible in the 5 Fifty 5 Shop.
The Therapeutic Clown Program at SickKids gratefully
acknowledges:

Yes, I want to join the and make a lasting difference in the lives of sick children today!

$12 Please find Debit my: Visa MasterCard American Express

$25 enclosed my cheque(s)
Name:
$50 made payable to
Another amount of choice SickKids Foundation Card#/Expiry:
designated to The
Address:
I prefer to make a Therapeutic Clown
one-time gift in the amount Program Email:
of or Phone #:

The Therapeutic Clown Program at SickKids is self-funded through generous individual, foundation and corporate gifts. Donations over $20 are tax deductible.
Please mail your contribution to 555 University Avenue Room 4293 Black Wing Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8 or phone 416-813-6629.
Thank you for your generous support. Charitable Business #108084419-RRR-0001