FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Simon Keith Foundation and David Foster Foundation
Announce National Partnership Supporting Canadian Children after Life-Saving Organ Transplant

New Program Provides Funding for Sports, Fitness, and Cultural Activities to Help Kids Thrive Post-Transplant

Victoria, BC, Canada, April 1 2026 – The Simon Keith Foundation and the David Foster Foundation are proud to announce a transformative national partnership dedicated to supporting Canadian children who have undergone successful, life-saving organ transplants.

This new program helps young transplant recipients reclaim active, healthy lives by fully funding their participation in sports, fitness, recreational, and cultural activities across Canada.

Because surviving transplant is not the end. It is the beginning… of everything.

For many transplant families, recovery can be physically demanding and emotionally overwhelming, and returning to normal childhood activities can feel both urgent and out of reach. Through this partnership, Canadian children aged 19 and under who have received a life-saving organ transplant can access grants covering the full cost of participation in the activity or sport of their choice. Families are referred through the David Foster Foundation and invited to participate as part of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to long-term, wraparound support beyond surgery.

Whether it’s hockey, golf, dance, fitness programs, or cultural activities – if it gets a child moving, engaged, and thriving, the program supports it.

Khai went from Life‑Saving Transplant to Thriving Childhood                           
Diagnosed before birth with gastroschisis, Khai faced months in intensive care and later developed unexplained end‑stage liver failure. In October 2018, he was listed for a rare multi‑visceral transplant and received a perfect donor match less than 12 hours later.

Today, Khai is thriving, living a full, active life and participating in Taekwondo, baseball, soccer, and golf – an extraordinary outcome of pediatric transplant care and resilience.

Leadership Voices

“We are thrilled to partner with Simon and his foundation in advancing our shared vision for Canadian children and families and their active post-transplant lives.”
— David Foster, Founder and Chairman, David Foster Foundation

“By partnering with the David Foster Foundation, The Simon Keith Foundation is excited to deliver real-time, life-changing opportunities for these children and families. Returning kids to sports and activities is at the very core of what we do.”
— Ian Klitsie, Director, The Simon Keith Foundation

“This alignment between David and Simon’s foundations will continue to assist Canadian children and families for years to come. We are excited and proud to roll out this program together.”
— HCol. Michael Ravenhill, CEO, David Foster Foundation

About the Partnership

The David Foster Foundation, founded by David Foster, has spent 40 years supporting families of children undergoing major organ transplants, covering essential non-medical costs such as housing, travel, and groceries from listing through post-operative care.

The Simon Keith Foundation, founded by former professional athlete and heart transplant recipient Simon Keith, empowers transplant recipients, especially children, to live active, healthy lives.

Together, these two organizations are redefining what post-transplant care looks like in Canada—ensuring that children who survive are given every opportunity not just to live… 

but to truly thrive.

Media Contacts:

Ian Klitsie

The Simon Keith Foundation

Ian@TheSimonKeithFoundation.com

Phone: 250-883-8787

Simon Keith
The Simon Keith Foundation
Simon@TheSimonKeithFoundation.com

Phone: 702-427-9111

Michael Ravenhill
David Foster Foundation
mravenhill@davidfosterfoundation.com

Phone: 602-318-6786

About The Simon Keith Foundation

The Simon Keith Foundation provides financial support primarily to youth who have received

life-saving organ transplants, helping them return to active, healthy lives. In addition to assisting with non-medical expenses, the Foundation promotes organ donor registration through public awareness campaigns. For more information, visit www.thesimonkeithfoundation.com.

About David Foster Foundation

The David Foster Foundation is a Canadian non-profit charitable organization founded by sixteen-time Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster. For 40 years, the Foundation has provided financial support for non-medical expenses to families of children undergoing major organ transplants. This assistance helps cover essential costs such as mortgage or rent, travel, utilities, and groceries. Support is available for children under nineteen, starting from the moment they are listed for a pediatric transplant and continuing through all post-operative checkups.

Beyond financial assistance, the Foundation is a leading advocate for organ donor awareness and registration in Canada and the United States. For more information on the Foundation’s programs, impact, and ways to contribute, visit www.davidfosterfoundation.com.

 

For event information  go to www.simonkeith.com/foundation

 

The 10th Annual Simon Keith Foundation Golf and Dinner Event is scheduled for October 11th, 2024.

Returning to the Revere Golf Club, The SKF Golf Event will sell out both courses again as we celebrate 10 years of raising funds for kids and families who have undergone an organ transplant as well as for raising awareness for organ donation and the need for people to register.

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The David Foster Foundation and two-time heart transplant recipient Simon Keith C.M. want you to ‘Keep The Beat’ this February for Heart Month as the need for registered organ donors continues

 

February 1, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – Did you know that roughly every 40 seconds someone will have a heart attack? This is one of the alarming statistics that highlights the importance of cardiovascular health and the reason The David Foster Foundation is partnering with famed Canadian, former professional soccer player and two-time heart transplant recipient Simon Keith C.M. of The Simon Keith Foundation to ‘Keep the Beat’ for February’s Heart Month.

 

As of the end of 2023, there are over 4,400 Canadians awaiting a life-saving organ transplant. This need is underscored by the fact that 90% of Canadians say they support organ donation, but only 32% have actually registered their decision. What is more surprising is that this donor rate continues to be one of the lowest for a developed and progressive country.

 

Partnering again with Simon Keith was important as he is the perfect spokesperson to help promote both Heart Month and the need for more registered organ donors given his personal struggles and achievements. Simon is the first athlete in the world to play a professional sport after receiving a heart transplant. Due to an illness and the need for a second heart transplant, Simon was inspired to share his humanitarian efforts globally and founded The Simon Keith Foundation (www.thesimonkeithfoundation.com) in 2012, with the goal of providing financial support to youths who have undergone a life-saving organ transplant who desire a return to an active and healthy lifestyle.

 

Simon has become a well-known leader on the topics of organ donation, transplantation and patient advocacy, and was awarded the Order of Canada in 2022, recognized as one of Canada’s highest honors for individuals who shape Canadian society, ignite imaginations and unite communities.

 

“Keep The Beat is the perfect theme and slogan to help not only draw awareness to the fact that cardiovascular heart disease is one of the leading causes of death but also the continuing need for heart and organ transplants,” says HCol Michael Ravenhill, Chief Executive Officer at The David Foster Foundation. “Throughout the month, we will be sharing across billboards, our social channels and across our digital outreach to help inform, educate, and create a better awareness about the importance of becoming an organ donor this month.”

 

“As a two-time heart transplant recipient, it is important for everyone to do their part in helping raise awareness of the importance of getting checked out and reduce any stigmas or concerns around organ donation,” added Simon Keith C.M.

 

Founded by famed Canadian David Foster, The David Foster Foundation is a national non-profit Canadian charitable organization dedicated to providing financial support for non-medical expenses to Canadian families with children in need of pediatric organ transplants. Over the past 38 years, the Foundation has assisted over 1,450 families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants.

 

There are multiple ways for people to support the David Foster Foundation:

1) Visiting us at www.davidfosterfoundation.com to see the options available to help us;

2) Registering to become an organ donor – it takes only two minutes to register – and making sure to share your wishes with your family;

3) Follow @DavidFosterFoundation on Instagram and search for us on Facebook for the latest updates.

 

About The David Foster Foundation

The David Foster Foundation provides financial assistance to families of children for all non-medical expenses while their child is going through the major organ transplant process. Thanks to its annual fundraising efforts and the generous support of Life Legacy Members, national partners, and donors, families receive financial support for day-to-day expenses such as mortgage/rent, car payments, travel expenses, utilities, groceries and more while their child is going through the major organ transplant process.

 

The success of the David Foster Foundation would not be possible without the generous support of Life Legacy Members including Jim & Sandi Treliving, AWIN Group of Dealerships, GAIN Group, Jim Pattison, TELUS, Paragon, The Slaight Family Foundation, The Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation, Walter & Maria Schneider, Joan & Paul Waechter, Kyle MacDonald & John Franklin, James Wilson & Vivian Roy, The Anschutz Foundation, Argyros Family Foundation, and the Newton Glassman Charitable Foundation in Partnership with the Catalyst Capital Group.

 

The Foundation is also supported by National Partners WestJet, Aird & Berlis LLP, National Post, ALLVISION, and Schnitzer Steel, and Community Partners Boston Pizza, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Tom Lee Music, Gib-San Pools, DeerFields Clinic, StayWell, RBC Dominion Securities, and The Hillyard Stephen Group. For those who wish to have a deeper involvement with the organization, there are a number of ways to contribute including the donation of Avion Rewards and Aeroplan miles, all of which will directly help families going through the organ transplant process.

 

The Foundation has recently joined the American Society of Transplantation (AST) Living Donor Circle of Excellence, a no-cost recognition program which celebrates companies that offer paid sick leaves to employees who become living donors.

 

The Foundation also promotes organ donor awareness and registration in both Canada and the United States. For more information, visit www.davidfosterfoundation.com.

 

About The Simon Keith Foundation 

The Simon Keith Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support primarily to youths who have undergone a life-saving organ transplant who desire a return to an active and healthy lifestyle. In addition to helping people with their non-medical expenses, the Foundation strives to increase organ donor registration through public awareness campaigns. For additional information please go to www.thesimonkeithfoundation.com.

 

Note to editors/producers: Michael Ravenhill and Simon Keith are available for interviews.

 

Media Contacts:

Jerry Grymek, LMA, at 416-918-2043 or jerry@lma.ca

HCol Michael Ravenhill, Chief Executive Officer, David Foster Foundation, at 602-318-6786 or mravenhill@davidfosterfoundation.com

 

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LAS VEGAS – December 29, 2022 – Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced today in Ottawa that Simon Keith C.M. is one of the new appointments to the Order of Canada. One of the country’s highest honors, the Order of Canada was created in 1967 by Queen Elizabeth II to honor individuals who shape Canadian society, ignite imaginations and unite communities.

 

The first athlete in the world to play a professional sport after receiving a heart transplant and recent heart/kidney transplant recipient, Keith has become one of the most well-known and influential leaders in the fields of organ donation, patient advocacy and transplantation on the planet. In addition, Keith is a world-renowned motivational speaker and inspires others through his keynote addresses to “Build Great Teams” and “Build Great Leaders.”

 

Keith lived – an almost unheard of – 32 years as the grateful recipient of his 1986 heart transplant until 2019 when he fell gravely ill. Through the generosity of another heroic donor Keith was fortunate enough to receive a second heart and a kidney transplant. The second transplant has only encouraged Keith to continue his humanitarian efforts in Canada and around the globe.

 

In 2012, Keith founded The Simon Keith Foundation, (www.thesimonkeithfoundation.com)

dedicated to providing financial support primarily to youths who have undergone a life-saving organ transplant who desire a return to an active and healthy lifestyle. In addition to helping people with their non-medical expenses, the Foundation strives to increase organ donor registration through public awareness campaigns.

 

In the last 10 years the Foundation has raised millions of dollars and continues in its relentless mission to impact the youth and families affected by organ failure. Among many highlights, the foundation has sponsored every child in Canada and the United States in their desire to attend the Transplant Games in their respective countries.

 

In addition, The Simon Keith Foundation has endowed a scholarship in partnership with the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame at the University of Victoria, dedicated to raising awareness for organ donation, along with a matching scholarship through the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.

 

Through his Foundation, Keith continues his mission to lead organ donor awareness campaigns in the U.S., Canada and throughout the world. Through his relentless dedication to this cause, he embodies the tenets of the Order of Canada.

 

“The Order of Canada celebrates the lives, endeavors and successes of people from coast to coast and from all walks of life,” said Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada. “Those being appointed today come from a variety of sectors, have achieved national and international success, and have shown ingenuity, innovation and generosity. What’s more, they have made a difference in their communities and for Canada with their outstanding dedication and commitment. Congratulations to the new Order of Canada appointees, as well as those celebrating a promotion within the Order.”

 

 

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