The Herbie Fund: Humanitarian surgical care for children from around the world
Some families do not have the financial means — such as private insurance, the ability to self‑pay, or government or embassy support — to cover the cost of specialized medical care.
The Herbie Fund supports the surgical care expenses for accepted patients. There is limited funding support available for travel expenses. It does not cover non‑medical costs such as accommodation or living expenses while in Toronto.
Since a Herbie Host Family is expected to provide support to the child and one accompanying parent, there is limited funding for non-medical costs, such as accommodations, only in exceptional circumstances subject to the review committee approval. The Herbie Fund does not provide support for costs of daily living, such as meals or incidentals.
How the Herbie Fund works
The Herbie Fund is supported by donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, agencies, and community groups across the Greater Toronto Area. SickKids physicians waive their professional fees, ensuring that every donated dollar goes directly toward patient care for children in need.
A Herbie Host Family opens their home to provide a welcoming place for the patient and one parent to live during their time in Toronto, offering a supportive home environment while the child receives care at SickKids.
Eligibility criteria
To be considered for support through the Herbie Fund, all of the following criteria must be met:
- The patient is under 17 years old at the time of application
- Treatment will be completed before the patient’s 18th birthday
- Surgical care will be provided only at SickKids in Toronto
- The required surgery is not available in the patient’s home country, or can be performed more effectively at SickKids by SickKids experts
- Treatment is a single, one‑time surgical procedure, or a defined series of surgeries completed within an eight‑week period
- The Herbie Medical Review Committee determines that the treatment will be life‑altering with a lasting impact for the patient
- A responsible physician in the patient’s home country is identified to provide post‑operative and follow‑up care
- A Canadian host is available to accommodate the child and family during treatment
- The family agrees to return to their home country once discharged from SickKids
Treatments not covered by the Herbie Fund
The Herbie Fund does not provide financial support for the following:
- Consultations or medical assessments
- Kidney dialysis
- Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
- Solid organ transplantation (including heart, lung, or kidney)
- Chronic or long‑term rehabilitation
- Developmental delay
- Cerebral palsy management
How to apply to the Herbie Fund
- Complete the International Patient Program Referral Form. The patient’s parent or legal guardian and referring physician must complete their sections of the form. Include the child’s medical information with the referral. Review the Herbie Fund eligibility criteria. If the child is eligible, select “Applying for assistance through the Herbie Fund” as the proposed method of payment.
- Complete the Herbie Fund Financial Application (PDF). Provide information about your household income and monthly expenses. Include documents that support the income and expenses reported in the application.
- Identify a Canadian host family. A host in Canada must be available to accommodate the child and their accompanying parent or legal guardian during treatment and recovery in Toronto. If a friend or relative will be the host, provide their contact information. If you do not have a friend or relative that can host you and your child during treatment at SickKids, please indicate this in the application form.
Applications are reviewed individually for clinical eligibility and financial need. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance for treatment or Herbie Fund support, and available funding is limited.
Become a Herbie Host Family
When an international child is approved for Herbie Fund support for surgery at SickKids, they need a Herbie Host Family while in Toronto.
Herbie Host Families volunteer their time, open their homes and provide day-to-day support to the child and one accompanying parent or legal guardian. A safe, welcoming place to stay can make an important difference for families while their child receives treatment and recovers.
Interested in supporting a family during their care journey? Learn more about becoming a Herbie Host Family and apply (PDF).
History of the Herbie Fund
In 1978, Herbie Quinones was born in Brooklyn, New York, with a rare birth defect that made breathing and swallowing life‑threatening. A specialized operation — developed at SickKids by Dr. Robert Filler — could save his life. But Herbie’s family could not afford either the treatment or the journey to Toronto.
After Herbie’s story appeared in local newspapers, Paul and Gina Godfrey led a community effort in Toronto to raise funds for his care. Dr. Filler generously offered to perform the surgery without charge.
In February 1979, Herbie came to Toronto, underwent successful surgery, and returned home healthier and thriving.
When all of Herbie’s medical expenses were paid, $17,000 remained in the fundraising account. The Godfreys chose to use those funds to help other children facing similar barriers — creating what is now known as The Herbie Fund.
Since its founding, the Herbie Fund has supported over 800 children from over 100 countries around the world, giving them access to surgical care that may not have been possible otherwise.