Presents
Gala & Concert
Victoria BC, Canada
Saturday . August 23 . 2025
A Letter from SIMON
“It has to be Victoria.”
When we decided to host the first ever Simon Keith Foundation Heart of Gold Gala and Concert, we knew there was only one place for it: Victoria.
Victoria is where I grew up. It’s where I learned about life, sports, struggle, community, and love.
Victoria is home.
What began as a casual conversation at Lake Cowichan – a few friends and I hoping to raise $10K or $20K to help a family or two – has grown into a foundation that has far exceeded our original collective vision.
With your support, over the past decade, the Simon Keith Foundation has raised millions of dollars. We’ve been able to support hundreds of kids and families and champion the cause of organ donation and transplantation across the globe. The impact you’ve made possible is truly unprecedented.
It is an immense honor and privilege for me to return home – to Victoria, BC – where the values that shaped this foundation were first instilled in me. My promise to you is simple: we will deliver a world-class event that will make Victoria proud.
On August 23, 2025, at the Victoria Conference Centre, we’ll come together to celebrate The Simon Keith Foundation Heart of Gold Gala & Concert in a way Victoria will remember for years to come.
I personally want to thank you for being a part of this extraordinary event. With your help, we’re confident that this will be a resounding success – an event we’ll talk about for years to come – and, most importantly, that we’ll raise enough funds to continue offering life-changing support to even more families touched by organ donation and transplantation in Canada and around the world.
I simply cannot express how grateful I am for your unwavering support.
Sincerely,
Simon Keith, Founder & Chairman
Past Recipients
Brock’s Story
Madelyn’s Story
Rowan’s Story
Emry’s Story
Organ transplants are extraordinary — beautiful, complex, life-saving, and often overwhelming.
For children, the impact of these life-changing events is felt every day.
When a child becomes ill, and a family has to grapple with the devastating news that their child needs a transplant, their world stops.
In a single moment, priorities change.
What follows is an all-consuming race against time that last months, and sometimes years.
Doctors, hospitals, finances, travel, bills, health, siblings, marriage—all are strained in the fight to save that precious life.
Simon Keith understands this struggle on the most personal level.
At just 19 years old, a world-class soccer player, Simon found himself in the fight of his life. His “team” was vast—family, soccer teammates, medical professionals, and most importantly, the people of Victoria, who rallied around him during his darkest hours.
Throughout this journey, Simon learned many profound lessons. But one stood out above the rest: what happens after you’ve received the transplant? After the applause fades, the community fundraisers end, and your health stabilizes—when everyone else returns to their normal lives.
What happens when the door closes, and you’re left alone to face a new reality?
The haunting question “What now?” burned inside Simon. Although his success story has been well documented—recognized as the first professional athlete to compete after a heart transplant and an international advocate for organ donation—the fire within him only grew.
Still, he knew that his story wasn’t unique. Every child who undergoes an organ transplant is faced with the same uncertainty, the same “What now?”
Simon decided to change that.
The Simon Keith Foundation
Founded in 2012, The Simon Keith Foundation provides critical financial support to young people who have received life-saving organ transplants and aspire to return to an active, healthy lifestyle. In addition to helping families manage nonmedical expenses, the Foundation champions organ donor registration through public awareness campaigns.
To date, the Foundation has raised and invested more than $5 million into transforming the lives of transplant recipients and raising awareness about organ donation.
Born from a passion forged through adversity, The Simon Keith Foundation has become the gold standard for post-transplant support in North America and beyond.
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