For more than a decade, the Miss Lizzy’s Foundation brought people together over something simple and comforting: a cup of tea. But behind every gathering was a deeper mission. It was about community. It was about care. And most of all, it was about helping people facing cancer feel supported through some of the hardest days of their lives.
Now, after raising more than $150,000 and supporting meaningful projects across Southwestern Ontario, the Foundation is entering its final chapter. Its last act of kindness is a $40,000 gift to support paediatric oncology and family care at Children’s Hospital in London, Ontario.
How It All Began
The Foundation’s story began in 2009, when Sarah DelCiancio and her mom Liz took a trip to London, England. They fell in love with the tradition of high tea and brought it home with them to Leamington. That March, they hosted a small tea party for International Women’s Day. Liz invited her friends. Sarah invited hers. There was tea, treats, and a beautiful afternoon of connection.
Later that year, Liz was diagnosed with breast cancer. When she hosted the tea party again, she decided to add a fundraising element. Guests donated to Look Good Feel Better, an organization that had helped her during her treatment. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
That one afternoon grew into something much bigger. Liz moved the event into a community venue, gathered volunteers, and began raising funds to support other patients in need. Over time, the Miss Lizzy’s Foundation was born.
From Backyard to Community Movement
The Foundation hosted an annual garden-style tea in June, complete with china teacups, 50/50 draws, and raffle prizes. The organizing, planning preparing the foods and making the tea were all women volunteers. The men were also “day of” volunteers who served the attendees, much to the delight of all the guests. Local businesses donated generously. It quickly became a fixture in the community.
Donations were always directed toward patient support. That was important to Liz. She wanted to make sure the money helped real people in real ways. The Foundation funded projects like a revamped chemotherapy suite at Erie Shores Hospital and a therapeutic outdoor garden at Erie Shores Hospice. One of its most beloved contributions was Miss Lizzy’s Tea Room, a peaceful space filled with teacups and sunlight where families could rest and reflect.
Even after Liz passed away in 2017, Sarah and her family continued the Foundation’s work. That same year, they hosted the largest tea in its history with more than 300 guests. It was a bittersweet celebration of everything Liz had built.
Finding the Right Place for the Final Gift
The Foundation paused during the pandemic. Sarah had young children, and travel from Toronto to Leamington made organizing events difficult. The time had come to consider next steps. The family decided not to divide the remaining funds into smaller gifts. Instead, they chose to make one final, meaningful donation.
That decision came with reflection and emotion. For Sarah, it also came with a sense of clarity.
“One night, the words ‘look into London’ just came to me,” she said.
“I really felt like it was my mom nudging me toward something.”
That something turned out to be Children’s Hospital. Sarah knew families from her hometown who had travelled there for care. Supporting paediatric oncology felt like a natural extension of the Foundation’s mission to help patients and families directly. The donation would support everything from treatment to comfort items to regional clinics that help children receive care closer to home.
“We knew the impact would reach families in our own community and beyond,” Sarah said.
“That made it the right decision.”
A Gift That Keeps on Giving
Liz’s husband, Gino, also played a big role in the Foundation’s success. Through community car shows, he raised funds that were donated to support the Foundation’s work. Together with Sarah and her brothers Cory and Chris, they created something that will continue to touch lives long after the final cheque is written.
“We have her name in places that matter,”
Sarah said. “There is a tearoom with her teacups.
There are families who felt supported because of her vision. And now,
there are children who will receive care because of her final gift.”
The Miss Lizzy’s Foundation may be wrapping up, but Liz’s legacy of compassion will continue to pour love into the world — one cup at a time.
