2024 At A Glance
2024 was an exciting year for The Dream Factory! So many new friends, so much amazing support from our community, and - most importantly - so many special smiles for our Dream Kids and their families.
Last year, 65 Dream families joined our community and began their journey with The Dream Factory! That means that more than 200 Manitobans have gained access to the support that we provide - Dream Family Funds, Beyond Dreams activities, and of course, a dream come true. With lots of exciting news coming up, you’ll want to keep an eye out for all the fun that’s to be had with The Dream Factory in 2025!
2024 was all about giving Dream Kids and families a safe sanctuary - a place where they feel a reprieve from the stress of their illness; providing supportive solutions to problems that arise for families during their medical journeys; and sharing special smiles with sick kids who deserve shining moments of fun.
Safe Sanctuary
Late in 2024, The Dream Factory moved! In November, we left our old office space and have since been settled into a new community space that was made with Dream Kids at front of mind. This is a space for Dream Kids and their families to visit when they want - a place to unwind before or after appointments, or even just to come have some fun on a day off of school!
We are ecstatic to be able to invite families into this new space that is the perfect combination of sanctuary and fun in 2025!
Supportive Solutions
As you may know, The Dream Factory aims to be there for families from the moment we meet them, and remain a supportive pillar in their medical journey long after their dream comes true. One of the ways we do this is through our Dream Family Funds.
In 2024, The Dream Factory provided $195,000 in financial support to families to help with groceries, gas, additional childcare, medical expenses not covered by insurance, and whatever else they need. Families have shared that these funds have made an incredible difference for them during an agonizingly difficult time. This support is all thanks to our Dream Community.
We are so thankful to have an incredible community that has rallied time and time again in our Dream Kids’ corners. Support like yours is what makes all of this possible!
Special Smiles in 2024
Dream Kids experienced some magical moments throughout the year. Dream Kid Meleah met her musical idol Brent Faiyaz during her Dream Trip to Australia - after singing her heart out at the show, Meleah went backstage to meet her hero! Meleah was almost speechless, but she had a great time chatting with her favourite singer.
During a Dream Trip that was slightly closer to home, Ethan met his heroes on the Toronto Raptors! Dream Kid Ethan loves basketball, and now he’ll always remember sitting courtside for the Raptors’ warm-up, meeting the players, and watching the game live!
But the fun doesn’t just start and stop with a dream come true! For Dream Kids like Olivia, the magic began long before her dream. Olivia’s dream is to swim like a mermaid in Hawaii, so we set up a Mermaid School lesson for her to get her sea legs (or fins!). Donning a mermaid tail, Olivia splish splashed in the pool with her favourite Disney Princess, Ariel. Now she’s ready for the big waves when she takes her flight to Hawaii, where she will transform back into a mermaid as she dives into the ocean!
Another unforgettable journey was when Dream Kid Makenna created her own Dream Factory Burger for The Fairmont’s Back Door Burger. It was so delicious they used it for their entry in the Between the Buns campaign! The journey included Makenna visiting a bakery to see how the buns were made (and dyed blue), helping to harvest the veggies on the Fairmont’s rooftop garden, and assembling the burgers in the Fairmont’s kitchen.
Finally, the Mighty Makenna burger launched, as Makenna wore her personalized chef’s coat and chef’s hat. She proudly served the burger to friends, family, and customers - all the preparation made for a fantastic summer afternoon of burgers and smiles!
We also shared some special birthday memories with Dream Kids in 2024! Part of Jaydan’s dream was an epic gaming birthday party hosted at The Dream Factory - he and his best pal chowed down on their favourite snacks as they tried out his new games.
Dream Kid Nixon paid us a visit on his birthday, too! When Nixon woke up on his birthday (which was also a day off from school), his parents told him he could do anything he wanted for his birthday - go to the arcade, bowling, eat at his favourite restaurants… And Nixon said he wanted to visit The Dream Factory!
This past year held so many exciting moments full of special smiles that will not soon fade. We know that 2025 will bring even brighter times - it will be a monumental year for The Dream Factory, spreading joy to Dream Families in amazing ways.