This year the IWK Foundation celebrated 40 years of the IWK Telethon, an annual fundraiser that supports the most urgent priorities at the IWK, such as equipment, education, research and innovation. We want to keep the celebration going by highlighting Dairy Queen (DQ®) a supporter who has been with us since the beginning.
DQ® opened its first store in 1940, in Illinois, USA. The menu at the time was limited to cones, sundaes, and pints and quarts of DQ® soft serve. The first international location was opened in 1953 in Winnipeg, Canada.
In 1984, less than 15 years after the first DQ® opened its doors, it became a partner of Children’s Miracle Network. Since then, DQ® has donated over $52 million to support local children’s hospitals across Canada.
On August 7, 2024, Dairy Queen President & CEO Troy Bader visited the IWK Foundation and took a tour of IWK Health. At the IWK, Troy visited the recently renovated NICU, which was entirely built thanks to donations like those from Dairy Queen. Troy also stopped into the children’s playroom and handed out Blizzard Treats to patients.
We are forever grateful for all that Dairy Queen has done to support IWK Health. Check out this Q&A we did with Troy at the end of his hospital visit.
*Answers have been edited for clarity
Q: How does it feel to be a Children's Miracle Network partner of 40 years?
A: Being a partner with Children's Miracle Network and the IWK Foundation here in Canada for 40 years is something we're incredibly proud of. When I think back to why after 40 years this remains such a great relationship, it’s because of the amazing connection between children's hospitals and DQ®. That connection exists because kids and their families support DQ® so well and supporting children’s hospitals like IWK is the perfect way for franchisees and the DQ® system to give back to them and their communities.
Q: So, DQ® has donated over $52 million to children's hospitals across the country. Can you talk about how this was accomplished?
A: It is amazing what our franchisees do to raise funds for children's hospitals. They have raised over $52 million in Canada already. The money is raised in a variety of ways, but the primary fundraising event is Miracle Treat Day which we hold every year in Canada. This is the 22nd year of this event. Last year, we raised more than $2.2 million for children’s hospitals in Canada on Miracle Treat Day alone.
Q: Troy, can you speak on the impact that DQ® donations have made across Canada?
A: I love visiting hospitals like IWK because you can see the impact that our fundraising is having on the hospitals, and by extension, on kids and their families. At IWK we’ve been able to support priority needs including the NICU expansion and redevelopment, and now the construction of the new emergency care unit. At other hospitals, we’ve supported family rooms, uncompensated medical care, equipment, research, playrooms for kids and much more.
Q: What was it like visiting the IWK today?
A: Every time I visit a children's hospital, I feel great because this, at the end of the day, is what the effort is all about. It is about helping the hospitals provide great care to kids in our communities. On this visit, I’ve really been inspired to see what IWK is doing, its patient-first mindset and making sure that everything is accommodating to the patients, their families and the great medical care team. This is a wonderful facility. I love to see the cranes. I love to see the construction because that means growth, redevelopment, and even better care for kids and their families in the future.
