A Supporting Lead
by Kelly Gray
Organizations with charitable goals are lightning rods attracting some of the best and brightest in our communities. These organizations create positive energy, set forward examples of trustworthy behaviour and draw on talent from like-minded individuals who respect integrity and kindness.
Manitoba’s Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation (CRF) is one such organization. This charity helps children and youth live as independently as possible when they face challenging medical conditions. The Foundation is the fundraising arm for the Rehabilitation Centre for Children, an outpatient facility that provides services and outreach therapy. Recently, the CRF’s good works attracted a new Executive Director, Kathryn McBurney, who came on board this year to advance opportunities and improve quality of life for children and youth with disabilities.
“My passion lies in the capacity to support children and youth who are challenged with disabilities,” she says, mentioning that the Foundation helps kids from age one to 21. “We follow kids through their years of growth and development, and work to remove barriers so they can reach their full potential.”
The Foundation funds clinical programs, leading-edge technology, adaptive equipment, accessible recreational services, and pediatric rehabilitation research to enhance care.
“For example, a child who has a manual wheelchair can only go so far when navigating challenging terrain or physical obstacles like curbs and uneven surfaces. That child’s therapist contacts us to provide funding for the adaptive accessories and modifications necessary to help overcome these barriers,” says McBurney. “We can support something small but crucial, like adaptations to shoes for kids who wear specialized orthotics, to bigger adaptive rehabilitation tools, like specialized bikes, and important recreation programs like our summer camps requiring 1:1 care support.”
Driving positive change in communities through communication
McBurney’s career spans more than 25 years in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Over those years, she has created transformative communication strategies that have inspired action and driven positive results. Before taking on her current role, she was Vice President of Communications with the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. There, her knowledge and effort directly supported the success of the Better Futures Campaign that raised in excess of $112 million by leveraging media relationships, community engagement, and grassroots fundraising. She has also worked for a province-wide cancer initiative and in Indigenous programs and media relations for the Winnipeg Health Region, and was certified in Crisis and Risk Communications through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and trained through Winnipeg Emergency Management.
She has always valued volunteerism and community connection. For instance, she has worked for CNIB on a volunteer basis, as well as previously serving the board of the Canadian Public Relations Society Manitoba, including terms as Treasurer and Vice President. She actively serves on the Board of Governors of Manitoba Museum, the Red River College Creative Communications Advisory Committee, and the Lemonade Project which helps smaller not-for-profit organizations with strategic planning and brand strategy.
“I’ve worked with a wide range of community stakeholders from government to national and local businesses, First Nations communities, media, and non-profit organizations.” Altogether, she says her previous roles have taught her the power of collaboration to achieve great things for the community.
Personal connection
McBurney reports that her drive to become a champion for children and youth with disabilities was also fuelled by her experience as a mother.
“I have two wonderful children who fill my heart and life with joy. When one of my children was 10 years old, she was in a devastating car collision and suffered severe traumatic brain injuries. In that instant, our world
changed,” she says. “I remember the days waiting for her to wake up from her coma. The weeks hoping to hear her voice. The joy of seeing her take her first steps, again. The years of focused rehabilitation and adaptive tools allowing her to reach her potential.”
“As so many of you know, parents of a child with complex needs work tirelessly to support their child. I know what it is like to need a community to wrap around your family.”
And that’s McBurney’s first goal in her new role – to provide a community of support for children with varying abilities and their families. She hopes to start doing this by sharing the inspiring stories of the important work done at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children and the families it serves.
“There are powerful stories of children and youth facing physical and developmental challenges who are being helped thanks to the multidisciplinary teams at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children and thanks to donors who help ensure the kids have the tools they need to thrive,” she says. “If we share these stories and inspire people to choose Children’s Rehabilitation for their next gift, well that can make a big difference for the next child who needs support.”
The organization turns to corporate and private donors to provide the dollars they need. Manitoba has the highest rate of childhood disability per capita in Canada.
“The need is great and amongst our team the passion for this challenge is large and we know our community is full of wonderful people who can help,” she says, inviting people to get involved as volunteers or as donors. “Each of us can make a difference in the life of a child with a disability.”
