Sweet Impact: Purdys Chocolatier Celebrates 8 Years and Nearly $2M Raised for Children’s Hospitals as the Dear Santa Bar Returns

Back with a new hospital partner in the Maritimes, the bar that gives back continues its mission to support children and families navigating medical journeys during the holidays.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Purdys Chocolatier’s beloved Dear Santa Bar returns for a milestone eighth year, continuing its tradition of supporting pediatric care and Canadian families. To date, the Dear Santa initiative has raised nearly $2 million for children’s hospital foundations all across Canada. This year, Purdys Chocolatier is proud to welcome its newest holiday partner - IWK Health in the Maritimes - expanding its reach to support even more young patients and families.

Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, IWK Health is Maritime Canada’s leading health center for children, youth, and women, providing critical life-saving care, specialized treatments, and emergency services to families across the Maritimes.

Pediatric care doesn’t pause for the holidays. The Dear Santa Bar returns every year to support its hospital partners' mission of providing the best life-saving care to kids and families when they need it most. $2 from every Dear Santa Bar sold is donated to partnering children's hospital foundations, funding vital care and essential support to children and their families in need. Every dollar raised directly addresses each hospital's most urgent needs, ensuring children across Canada receive the critical care they require while bringing their families comfort, joy, and hope during some of their most challenging moments.

“We started Dear Santa after learning that kids spending the holidays in the hospital worry most that Santa won’t be able to find them,” says Kriston Dean, Chief Operating Officer at Purdys Chocolatier. “This bar is all about preserving the magic of childhood, even inside hospital walls. The overwhelming generosity of our customers each holiday season proves that when a child needs help, Canadians step up to make sure no family feels forgotten.”

Behind every Dear Santa Bar is a child receiving extraordinary care. Donations work to directly help fund cutting-edge medical equipment, groundbreaking research and clinical trials, specialized medical and mental health treatments, and therapeutic programs like art, music, and play that bring comfort, reduce stress, create moments of joy, and help kids feel like kids - even in the hospital.

Help deliver a touch of holiday magic for Canadian families this season. Pick up a Dear Santa Bar for yourself or as a thoughtful gift in Purdys Chocolatier shops across Canada or online at https://www.purdys.com/dear-santa. $2 from every bar sold goes directly to your local children’s hospital foundation, funding world-class care and bringing holiday cheer to kids who need it most.

Funds raised through the Dear Santa Bar support the following children's hospital foundations in Canada:

• NEW* IWK Health (Halifax, NS)
• BC Children’s Hospital Foundation (Vancouver, BC)
• Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (Calgary, AB)
• Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation (Edmonton, AB)
• Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation (Saskatoon, SK)
• Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB)
• SickKids Foundation (Toronto, ON)
• Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa, ON)

About Purdys Chocolatier:
Purdys Chocolatier has been Canada's Chocolatier since 1907. As a proud, family-owned company, they make a wide range of chocolate gifts from premium ingredients and sustainable cocoa. Community and people are at the heart of Purdys Chocolatier, and together with their Purple Partnerships initiative and Seasonal Fundraising Program, they find opportunities to support, advocate and craft more kindness.