When it comes to Capes for Kids, sometimes heroes wear capes in the office. Sometimes they’re spotted at the grocery store or on the way to work. And sometimes, they’re gathered around a ping pong table, laughing, competing, and giving back together.
That’s where Graeme White, Senior Associate with the Capital Markets Group – Investment Sales at Avison Young, and Catherine Price, Associate Vice President of Investments at Fengate Asset Management, found their footing. For these Capes for Kids Advisory Council members, it all started with a simple question: what if fundraising felt more like spending time with colleagues while doing some good? That idea first took shape as a trivia night with fellow council member Will Goodman, an Office Leasing Representative for Avison Young’s Toronto North market, and eventually grew into Ping Pong for Possibilities, which brings Toronto’s real estate community together year after year in support of Holland Bloorview. To date, Ping Pong for Possibilities has raised over $50,000 for the hospital.
Catherine’s connection to the hospital began in 2020, when she joined the Capes for Kids Advisory Council after being invited by a mentor. At the time, she didn’t know much about the hospital or the full scope of its work. That changed quickly.
“You go on one tour or hear one story from a parent or a child who’s been at Holland Bloorview, and you really see the meaningful, lasting impact it has,” she says.
“You see the innovation and the work being done to make life more accessible for so many people. You see the prosthetics lab, where kids can help design something they actually want to wear. It’s not just a hospital. There’s so much more behind it. And you can feel the joy and care the staff bring to the kids and families they support.”
Seeing that experience up close showed what giving back could really look like. Catherine, Graeme and Will decided their giving back would involve ping pong, not because anyone was exceptionally competitive, but because it created an atmosphere people wanted to be part of.
“Our industry is very social, and there are so many events raising money for great causes, but it can be hard to ask for donations the same way every year,” says Graeme. “We liked the idea of creating something where people could come to an event, support the hospital, but also have fun and network at the same time.”
That’s exactly what happens. And amongst all the fun and games and conversations, Holland Bloorview’s impact shines through. For some, it’s their first real introduction to the hospital. For others, it brings back memories they hadn’t thought about in years, like visiting as a child or knowing someone who received care there.
And while Graeme is quick to point out that no one’s showing up as a ping pong pro, that’s never been the point. What matters is the community, the connection, and the impact that lasts beyond the final game.