Opération Enfant Soleil is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1988 to raise funds for the development of high-quality paediatrics and to contribute to social health projects for all the children in Quebec.

A portion of Opération Enfant Soleil grants go to Quebec's four major paediatric centres: the CHUQ's Centre mère-enfant in Québec, the CHU Sainte-Justine in Montréal, the Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre and the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke.¹ The other portion is distributed among projects at regional hospitals and organizations; these projects have been assessed by independent committees and approved by the Opération Enfant Soleil board of directors.

Over the years, Opération Enfant Soleil has taken over the management of two charitable foundations: the Fonds Marie-Soleil Tougas, which is dedicated to promoting the mental health of young people, and the Fonds Josée Lavigueur, which promotes healthy eating and physical activity.

Since 1988, Opération Enfant Soleil has generated more than $140 million for major paediatric centres, regional hospitals, and organizations throughout Quebec.

Every day, 1,800 children receive care at Quebec's four major
paediatric centres in Montréal, Québec and Sherbrooke.²

Half of these children come from other regions of the province.³

Opération Enfant Soleil is not only Quebec's favourite philanthropic organization,⁴ but also an important and respected member of the paediatric community. Over the last 20 years, the grants it has distributed have contributed to the development of three centres for excellence in paediatric care where they have been used to acquire cutting-edge technology and to create environments designed specifically to meet the needs of young patients.

Here are some projects that Opération Enfant Soleil helped to make possible:

Every year, regional hospitals and organizations in the province receive over 80 grants from Opération Enfant Soleil

The funds Opération Enfant Soleil distributes to regional hospitals and organizations support the development and consolidation of neonatal and perinatal care. The funding allows them to acquire medical equipment specially designed for children, and to carry out capital projects related to paediatrics. By doing so, Opération Enfant Soleil helps to keep children and their families together in their communities. New equipment enables sick children to receive care closer to home, or to return to home more quickly after treatment. Our grants contribute to improving children's quality of life during their hospitalization by creating pleasant living spaces that encourage play and promote well-being.

Opération Enfant Soleil relies on the generosity and support of thousands of volunteers and over 1,000 partners of all kinds (businesses, individuals, schools, social clubs, daycares, etc.) from every region of Quebec. The most important Opération Enfant Soleil fundraising activity is its Telethon. The 23nd annual event, which took place in June 2010, yielded over $17 million to improve the lives of sick children.

Nearly 1,500 volunteers take part in the organization of the event-a 25-hour live television broadcast-helping to make it one of the largest Telethons in North America. The event shows how people, partners, volunteers, entertainers and artists can come together to support sick children and their families.