A letter from Malcolm Berry, CEO & President, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation

On February 28, 2024, we lost an important pillar of our community: Stephanie Carlson. From the moment Stephanie became involved with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation over three decades ago, she left an indelible mark on everything she touched.

Stephanie generously gave her time, expertise and heart by embracing over 20 volunteer roles, including a 13-year tenure on the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Board and long-standing support as a Board Chair, volunteer and donor to the Crystal Ball Gala. Recognizing the importance of having a facility that comforts children and families during their toughest moments, Stephanie championed and served as the inaugural Chair of the Foundation’s Healing Environment Committee and was an integral member of the Children’s Healing Experience Project for the Teck Acute Care Centre and Sunny Hill Health Centre. She also dedicated countless hours to helping launch and plan grassroots events, including RBC Race for the Kids and Festival of Trees—shaping them into the remarkable successes they are today.

Stephanie’s philanthropic contributions were equally transformative. Having witnessed firsthand the need for a new hospital, she was among the first to step forward with an extraordinary $1-million gift to help build the Teck Acute Care Centre. Her leadership and foresight were key to building momentum for this transformative endeavour, inspiring countless others to support it. Through generous gifts that sparked advances in areas like cardiology, mental health and medical genetics, Stephanie’s generosity can be felt in every corner of the hospital.

While Stephanie’s list of contributions is extensive, it was her genuine nature that touched all of us at the Foundation. Stephanie expressed on many occasions that the hospital had given her far more than she could ever give back; to her, supporting a cause she deeply believed in was the greatest reward. We are deeply grateful for the lasting legacy that Stephanie has created at BC Children’s Hospital. She will forever serve as a reminder of the profound difference that one visionary person can make in so many lives.