The Charity

Paul and Gina Godfrey established the Herbie Fund at The Hospital for Sick Children in 1979 during the “International Year of the Child” in response to the needs of Herbie and children like him from around the world. They feel strongly that every child should have access to medical care, regardless of financial position or geographical location. Their vision in creating the Herbie Fund was to disregard race, religion and financial status and simply looks at the children in need. Paul and Gina’s personal involvement in the creation of this charity is reflected in the values and philosophy behind Operation Herbie.

Operation Herbie looks forward to our future endeavors and continuing to implement innovative and cost-effective ways to assist children in need. We will continue the journey until it is complete - the day all children from around the world have access to life-saving and life-altering health care.

The First Baby

The journey began in 1979, with Herbie Quinones, a little seven-month-old baby from Brooklyn N.Y. He was born with a rare birth defect that made it difficult for him to breathe while eating. The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto had developed an innovative procedure that could heal him, but Herbie's family could not afford the flight or surgery. Read entire article

The story was picked up by the Toronto Star, and soon became a high profile news item as the paper provided daily coverage on Herbie’s plight. Paul and Gina Godfrey’s early involvement and leadership resulted in the creation of Operation Herbie. Read entire article

After reading the touching story of Herbie in local newspapers, there was an outpouring of generosity as Canadians and Torontonians donated money to cover his transportation and hospital costs. Read entire articleHerbie received his life-saving operation in Toronto and returned to Brooklyn a much happier and healthier little boy. Today, more that 25 years later, he is very much healthy and living and working in Brooklyn. Read entire article