WHAT IS KIN CANADA?

There are over 400 Kin Canada clubs and 6,000 members across Canada. Since 1920, Kinsmen, Kinettes, and Kin have Invested over 1 Billion Dollars in Canadian Communities

Kin Canada is an all-Canadian service organization made up of active community volunteers. Working together, members are enhancing the quality of life in their communities by promoting service, fellowship, positive values and national pride. Kin clubs support cystic fibrosis (CF) research and fund local projects across the country.

HISTORY OF KIN

The Association was founded on Feb. 20, 1920 in Hamilton, Ontario by Harold A. Rogers O.C., O.B.E. (1899-1994). Rogers was 21 and had just returned from the trenches of the First World War when his father, a prominent Rotarian, encouraged him to get together a few young men his own age. However, when Rogers decided to join the same Rotary club as his father, his application was rejected. It was the policy of the Rotary not to have two members from the same business establishment. As a result of this rejection, Rogers and a small group of men gathered for a dinner meeting and became the first Kinsmen Club.

CF AND KIN CANADA

ON AUGUST 21, 2021, KIN CANADA REACHES RECORD-BREAKING $50 MILLION IN CUMULATIVE DONATIONS TO CYSTIC FIBROSIS CANADA!

At Kin Canada’s Annual General Meeting on Aug 21, 2021, Cystic Fibrosis Canada President Kelly Grover announced to members that Kin Canada has raised an incredible $50,000,000 ($50 M) over the duration of the Cystic Fibrosis Canada-Kin Canada partnership. This is the largest cumulative donation in Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s 60-year history! With the partnership dating back to 1964, the all-Canadian service organization Kin Canada is Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s longest standing partner.

Over the years, Kin Canada club members have contributed to the partnership in several ways, including donating and raising funds through events such as the Walk to Make CF History, organizing community fundraisers, helping local Cystic Fibrosis Canada chapters, advocating for access to life-changing medications, and more, all while spending countless hours volunteering to enrich their local communities.

The challenges presented by the global pandemic didn’t dampen the dedication of Kin Canada in its support the cystic fibrosis (CF) community. Over the past two years many clubs and members stepped up their contributions, donating more than they ever have before because they knew that the CF community in Canada needed their help. “This achievement is a result of the time and dedication of the passionate Kin Canada club members who, since 1964, have supported Canadians impacted by cystic fibrosis,” said Lisa Burechails, Chair of the Kin-CF Liaison Committee. “It is Kin Canada’s mission to serve the greatest needs of Canadian communities, no matter the challenge, and there is no better example than what Kin Canada has achieved with Cystic Fibrosis Canada. I am incredibly proud of my fellow Kin, both past and present, for raising $50 million in cumulative funds donated to CF Canada.”

The support from Kin Canada has had a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of Canadians living with cystic fibrosis. Donations help to fund breakthrough research, treatments, quality clinical care, expanding resources and support available to the Canadian cystic fibrosis community and Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s work advocating for access to medications. Most recently, this included closing the gap in access to the life-changing medicine Trikafta. “We are blown away by the contributions of Kin Canada clubs.

Reaching $50 million in cumulative donations, during a global pandemic no less, is just incredible,” said Kelly Grover, President and CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “Kin Canada has been a tremendous partner to Cystic Fibrosis Canada for more than half a century, and the contributions of Kin Canada club members – be it financial with this achievement, or through their time and support, have been amazing and helped us go further for the cystic fibrosis community.

“We send our deepest thank you to each and every Kin who has been involved with Cystic Fibrosis Canada over the past 57 years.” Cystic Fibrosis Canada is honoured to be part of an outstanding partnership with Kin Canada.”