Frequently Asked Questions
Enfant Soleil (formerly Opération Enfant Soleil) was created in 1988 by members of the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec – Université Laval (CHUL). The original idea emerged in 1987, inspired by the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Telethon for sick children. This initiative, supported by pediatricians and the Ministry of Health, aimed to organize a French-language telethon in Quebec.
The first French-language telethon was held in June 1988 by the CHUL Foundation, in collaboration with Desjardins. The initial goal was to raise funds to establish a pediatric emergency department at CHUL. Later that fall, Opération Enfant Soleil was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization (NPO), with Dr. Jacques Brunet, then director general of CHUL, serving as the first chairman of the board.
From 1988 to today, Enfant Soleil has donated more than $337 million to major pediatric centres, regional hospitals, and organizations across the province.
87% of the funds raised are allocated to Quebec’s four major university pediatric centres, to support innovation in specialized and subspecialized care for children throughout the province:
- The Centre mère-enfant Soleil of CHU de Québec-Université Laval
- CHU Sainte-Justine in Montréal
- The Montreal Children’s Hospital of the MUHC
- lThe CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS
The remaining 13% is distributed annually among more than 100 healthcare centres and organizations across all regions to provide the best local pediatric care, close to families.
To support medical teams and help children heal better, Enfant Soleil invests donations in five key areas of action, covering various stages of children’s care by promoting excellence and innovation, and by providing local care. The five areas are:
- Enhanced care through innovative programs;
- Clinical research projects to advance care and to innovate;
- Cutting-edge equipment adapted to children’s size and needs throughout their treatment;
- Welcoming spaces that promote healing for children and their loved ones;
- Initiatives promoting sports, health, prevention, and emotional well-being.
For more information about the tangible impact of your generosity, visit the Impact of Your Donations page.
For every dollar donated to Enfant Soleil:
- $0.75 is invested in grants, awareness, and support for the pediatric sector;
- $0.17 is invested in fundraising activities;
- $0.08 supports operational and administrative expenses.
Like any nonprofit organization, Enfant Soleil must cover operational costs to keep its operations running smoothly, from organizing fundraising events to managing the foundation. Rest assured; we strive every day to help as many children as possible to recover.
These details are always available on our website in the Activity Report section, which includes a financial results summary.
Philanthropic funding complements government funding. Public funds primarily cover hospital operations and functioning. However, providing the best care requires innovating, acquiring cutting-edge equipment, and supporting research. While the government partially funds these things, support from foundations like Enfant Soleil is vital to do more. For example, research programs initially funded by foundations can be adopted by the government when they have proven their viability, creating a synergistic complementarity.
Enfant Soleil’s spokespeople are public personalities passionate about and committed to the cause. They volunteer their time throughout the year in various foundation and partner activities.
Discover those who generously and wholeheartedly contribute to Enfant Soleil’s visibility by visiting the Spokespeople and Collaborators page.
The Enfants Soleil (radiant children) are children who courageously and resiliently face illness. They are selected to represent each of Quebec’s administrative regions. As ambassadors, they and their family share their touching and inspiring experiences, showcasing Enfant Soleil’s tangible impact and raising donor awareness.
Learn more about their stories on the Enfants Soleil page.
Throughout the year, Enfant Soleil organizes various draws and fundraising events to support pediatric care across Quebec.
Discover our campaigns and events on the Fundraising Activities page.
The Telethon is Enfant Soleil’s flagship event, made possible through the invaluable participation of hundreds of collaborators, partners, volunteers, artists, and ambassadors. It is the culmination of a year-long commitment and generosity for sick children and their family. This over 10-hour live televized event raises awareness and rallies donors while applauding the generosity of all the cause's allies.
For more information about this event, visit the Telethon page.
Enfant Soleil’s Sustainable Sports and Health Fund promotes and supports healthy living through sports, physical activity, healthy eating, and emotional and mental well-being. It supports initiatives in three areas: prevention to promote young people’s well-being, education to help them adopt healthy habits, and recovery and adaptation to support them during physical and mental health challenges.
Learn more about its mission on the Sustainable Sports and Health Fund page.
Currently, the only way to contribute to the Sustainable Sports and Health Fund is by participating in the Gran Fondo campaign, an exclusive indoor cycling challenge in support of this fund. You can encourage a participant by donating or take part in the event to raise funds yourself. The Gran Fondo gathers resources to support projects that encourage young people to adopt healthy habits.
For more details about this sports event, visit the Gran Fondo page.
Unfortunately, this type of donation is not possible. Each year, Enfant Soleil ensures that the funds raised are distributed equitably, addressing the most urgent needs. We work tirelessly to optimize every dollar to provide the best care across the province.
Your banking and credit card information is protected and is not shared with third parties. Enfant Soleil does not store any credit data, which is why you must resubmit your information for every transaction.
Want to help children glow with health? Visit the Become a Volunteer page to learn how to join our team of volunteers. You’ll work alongside passionate and committed individuals ready to change the lives of children and their family members.
If you move, please inform us of your old and new addresses by phone at 1-877-683-2325 or by email at contact@enfantsoleil.ca so we can update our database.
Please contact us via our contact form or by phone at 1-877-683-2325. We’ll be happy to assist you.
The security of your personal information is very important to us, which is why we comply with the strictest Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), including all required PCI compliance protections.
We enforce rigorous security standards to safeguard our systems and donors’ personal information from unauthorized access and use, along with specific procedures to ensure the security, confidentiality, and retention of information.
For more details, consult our Privacy Policy.
Yes, we can issue a refund if necessary. Simply contact us at 1-877-683-2325, and a team member will assist you with your request.
If you made a mistake entering your contact information in the form, a team member can also make the required corrections.
We’re here to help you find the option that best suits your financial, family, and personal situation. Visit the Planned Giving section to learn about the available options and connect with a team member who will gladly guide you through the process.
Monthly donations from our Parent Soleil members enable us to support long-term projects and reduce administrative costs. While every donation helps children grow strong and healthy, your commitment to a monthly gift will send a powerful message of support to sick children and their family.
You can pay by credit card or direct debit by signing up via this form. For assistance joining the Parent Soleil program or for any questions, contact us by phone at 1-877-683-2325.
You can choose the start date of your Parent Soleil commitment, either the 1st or the 15th of each month.
You can modify, suspend, or stop your monthly donation at any time by contacting us by phone at 1-877-683-2325.
To update your credit card or bank account information for your Parent Soleil account, call us at 1-877-683-2325 and select option #3, or email parentsoleil@enfantsoleil.ca, and we will get in touch. To avoid the risk of fraud, never send your credit card number by email.
If you are not a Parent Soleil member, no credit card number is stored in your account.
Enfant Soleil does not authorize activities associated with any industry, organization, company, or entity whose activities do not align with its mission, mandate, or values. This includes:
- Fundraising initiatives that take a commission from donations;
- Businesses, products, or activities harmful to children, adults, or the environment, such as tobacco, cannabis, pornography, or other controversial themes;
- Events promoting a political party or candidate;
- Direct solicitation, such as door-to-door fundraising.
All legitimate fundraisers benefiting Enfant Soleil have been validated and authorized by our team. If you doubt the credibility of an initiative, contact us by phone at 1-877-683-2325, and we’ll gladly answer your questions.
Getting involved with Enfant Soleil is simple! To organize a fundraiser, visit the Get Involved page and select the category that suits you to discover our turnkey campaigns and connect with a team member who will gladly assist you. We can also support you in carrying out your personal fundraising project.
Our team will gladly assist you with your fundraiser, whether it’s your initiative or part of one of our turnkey campaigns. Visit the Get Involved page, select your profile, and connect with our experienced and specialized team. When registering your fundraiser, Enfant Soleil will provide a partnership agreement, access to the Fundky platform, and a branded toolkit to help organize your event.
The use of the Enfant Soleil logo and name requires prior approval, often accompanied by a partnership agreement. For questions about promoting your fundraiser or using the Enfant Soleil name and logo, contact us through our contact form or by calling 1-877-683-2325.
Enfant Soleil cannot apply for permits on your behalf. The event organizer is responsible for obtaining any necessary permits.
At its discretion, Enfant Soleil may like, comment on, or share posts highlighting your activity on social media.
By organizing a fundraiser or event, you become an Enfant Soleil partner, and we ensure your generous contribution is recognized. Visit the Get Involved page, select your profile, and connect with an advisor who will inform you of recognition options based on your partnership agreement.
Only donations of $20 or more with no benefit in return are eligible for a tax receipt. For example, tickets purchased for one of our raffles are not tax-deductible because they offer the chance to win a prize, which is not considered a donation under tax law.
If you donated online, your tax receipt will be attached to the confirmation email automatically sent to you. Don’t forget to check your junk email folder.
If you opted for monthly donations, a single tax receipt for your total annual donations will be mailed to you in February.
For other types of donations (by check, credit card, or cash), we ensure you receive your receipt within four weeks of processing your donation, either by mail or email.
No, a charity cannot issue an official donation receipt in the name of anyone other than the actual donor. Additionally, the donor's full name and address must appear on the receipt. For more information, consult the Canada Revenue Agency’s official guidelines on donation receipts.
The total donation from a fundraiser organizer is not tax-deductible because it comes from multiple sources.
For any questions, feel free to contact us via our contact form or by phone at 1-877-683-2325.
We apply industry standards to protect personal information, both during its receipt and transmission. Physical, technical, and administrative safeguards are in place to prevent unauthorized destruction, alteration, disclosure, or access, as well as any misuse or illegal processing of data. For more details, please consult our Privacy Policy.
However, since no digital transmission method or electronic storage is completely secure, we cannot guarantee the security of the information you transmit to us. If you suspect a data breach, please contact us at vieprivee@enfantsoleil.ca. In the event of a privacy incident, we will inform you promptly and take measures to mitigate potential harm.
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You can unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each email. You can also contact us through our contact form below or by calling 1 877 683-2325 if you have questions about our communications or wish to have your name removed from our mailing lists.
You can download a copy of the most recent activity report and previous reports by visiting the Activity Reports and Financial Statements page.
Enfant Soleil's identity has been updated to reflect the organization's evolution and give it new momentum. This transformation expresses who we are today, our strategic vision, and strengthens the connection with new generations. We hope to preserve and maintain the foundation's closeness with all Quebecers, and support children in every corner of the province.
The brand image had not been reviewed for several years and needed updating. It was our duty to ensure that it stands the test of time, resonates with new generations of donors, and becomes even more visible, so that we could continue to support the pediatric ecosystem for many year to come.
This change reflects the evolution of the organization. In the past, we were mainly known for a single fundraising event, the telethon, but today we have many other initiatives throughout the year.
This name evolution was already being observed in practice. Many donors and partners were already referring to us simply as Enfant Soleil. We decided to fully embrace and adopt this reality.
Our mission remains the same: to mobilize the entire Quebec population so that our children have access to the very best healthcare, everywhere in Quebec, by supporting the hospitals and organizations that care for them. This breath of fresh air will allow us to continue with renewed energy the work we've accomplished over the years.
We've taken the opportunity of this update to make our mission even clearer and more understandable: it covers all aspects of children's health, including prevention, illness, injuries, allergies, mental health issues, overweight, sleep, and more.
We are the ally of medical teams in major centers, regional hospitals, social pediatrics centres, birthing homes... Wherever a child is cared for in Quebec, Enfant Soleil is there. Because above all, we are the children's allies, ensuring that their daily lives remain as close to normal as possible: shorter, less painful, less frightening, less restrictive treatments. So they can stay as close as possible to their families and friends, and simply remain... children.