Variety Cares Fund
Hospital Grants
Variety is here with support grants for hospitals to help connect patients to care.
Applications open in October 2026. Email us for more information.
We help connect patients to care with more ease.
Our hospital grants support families who need to travel to deal with a medical emergency.
This includes funding for food, parking, accommodation, breast pumps, and other needs.
Eligibility Requirements
- We provide funding for families with immediate and urgent needs whose children are receiving essential health care away from home.
- Families of children from birth to 19 qualify for assistance.
- Families can only access support from one of our participating hospitals listed below.
Participating Hospitals
Funding is distributed via social workers at our partnering hospitals. This currently includes only the partners listed below.
Lower Mainland
Royal Columbian Hospital
BC Children’s Hospital
BC Women’s Hospital (NICU)
Burnaby Hospital
Fraser Valley
Abbotsford Regional Hospital
Surrey Memorial Hospital
Vancouver Island
Victoria General Hospital
Nanaimo General Hospital
Okanagan & Interior
Royal Inland Hospital
Kelowna General Hospital
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a family qualify for the Variety Cares Fund hospital grants?
Variety Cares Fund aims to support families most in financial need who are travelling outside of their home community to access urgent medical care for their child (ages 0 -19). Variety suggests limiting funds to those with a net household income of under $85,000, however discretion may be used on a case-by-case basis.
Is Variety funding available to families after leaving the hospital?
Variety Cares Fund supports only short-term needs. Once returning home, families may apply for a Variety Child Grant for longer term assistance, should they meet eligibility and their request fits within our guidelines.
Email our Heart Fund Granting Department or click here for details on Child Grants
Does the Variety Cares Fund support family members?
Variety Cares Funds can cover up to two primary care givers to accompany and support the child while seeking urgent medical attention.
Is there an age requirement for the patient who needs to access Variety Cares Fund?
Per Variety’s guidelines, Variety Cares Funds can only be considered for those from birth up to a child’s 19th birthday and with a valid personal healthcare number (PHN or formerly known as CareCard)
What if my child needs to go to a hospital not listed as a participating hospital?
Variety Cares Funds can only be distributed to the listed participating hospitals. If your hospital is not listed, please seek alternative financial support with the help of a local hospital social worker.
What type of funding is available to children who are in need of long-term hospital care?
For those children who are seriously ill and need prolonged hospitalization in one of the participating hospitals for more than one month, they can access the funding for comfort items (i.e. slippers, robes, books) or educational communication devices (i.e. iPads). This would include kids under cancer treatment, with severe breathing problems from asthma, serious infections, some complications of diabetes, or those involved in a serious automobile accident or near-drowning.