A Dollar A Day Foundation Presents Donation to Mental Health Commission of Canada's HEADSTRONG Program

CALGARY, Feb. 22, 2019 /CNW/ - This year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness. As more people come forward in search of help, the need for services is growing.  A Dollar A Day Foundation, launched in February 2018, by musician Alan Doyle, Dr. Andrew Furey and businessman Brendan Paddick, exists to raise funds to close the gap between the availability of frontline mental health and addictions programs and the growing need for them. The Foundation unites members of the public from across Canada and beyond, each giving a dollar a day to Share the Change for Mental Health and Addictions.

Today, Foundation co-founder and Dollar-A-Dayer, Alan Doyle was in Calgary, Alberta, to present a donation to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in support of their HEADSTRONG youth anti-stigma summits. The gift of $15,000, made possible by A Dollar A Day Foundation donors, will support HEADSTRONG's work in youth mental health and suicide prevention. Created by the MHCC for youth aged 12-18, HEADSTRONG was launched in November 2014. It gives youth the tools, confidence and inspiration they need to change the way Canada thinks about mental health and mental illness forever.

"We are all impacted by mental health and addictions issues. Zero degrees of separation! While statistics can help to define the need, we can never forget that behind every mental health statistic is a real human being that simply needs help. A friend, a family member, a colleague, a child," says Alan Doyle, Co-Founder and Dollar-A-Dayer, "I'm proud to represent all Dollar-A-Dayers here today as we present this donation to the HEADSTRONG program. Their work aligns perfectly will the principles of A Dollar A Day Foundation, and they are doing extraordinary work across Canada that we are delighted to support."

"This donation from A Dollar A Day is a tremendous gift," says Louise Bradley, President and CEO of the MHCC. "It will help support 15 HEADSTRONG summits, aiding about 82,000 students through the cascading reach of the program. Gifts like this one from Dollar-A-Dayers are the reason that we're doubling our work each year, with 90 summits held to date and another 50 planned for the 2019-20 academic year."

A Dollar A Day funds proven programs that are addressing the challenges that people are facing today. The Foundation looks for innovation, measurable results and the ability to replicate success in other areas of the country, with a goal to fund programs in every region of Canada. Individuals can sign up to give their dollar a day either monthly, quarterly or annually, based on their personal circumstances and preference, all in support of mental health and addictions services in Canada.

"While there is definitely opportunity to make a difference in our own respective ways, we believe that together, we can lead a movement for change amongst all Canadians for improved access to mental health and addictions care," says Doyle, "When everyone has equal opportunity to take ownership of a universal issue - corporate dollars, public dollars - together as a united voice for change, we can achieve so much more and have far greater impact in our collective communities - and that benefits everyone."

BACKGROUNDER

About A Dollar A Day Foundation

A Dollar A Day Foundation was established to raise funds to close the gap between the availability of mental health and addictions programs and the growing need for them. Founded by Alan Doyle, Dr. Andrew Furey and Brendan Paddick, A Dollar A Day Foundation is a simple, affordable and empowering way to support frontline mental health and addictions programs. Everyone gives a little - A Dollar A Day. We put our small change to work for big change. And as we do, we'll create a social movement and build a stronger voice to make mental health a priority.

In December 2018, the Foundation announced $60,000 in funding, committing $15,000 to each of their four charter causes. For more information about A Dollar A Day Foundation, to become a Dollar-A-Dayer, or to learn more about the Charter Causes, please visit www.adollaraday.ca. You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @adollaradayfdn.

About Mental Health Commission of Canada's HEADSTRONG program

The HEADSTRONG program from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) was launched in November 2014 to change the way youth think about mental health, forever. The only evidence-based program for youth mental health leadership in the country, HEADSTRONG gives youth the tools, confidence and motivation to Be Brave, Reach Out, and Speak Up for mental health in their schools and communities.

A two-part program, including unique one-day summits and follow-up in-school projects, HEADSTRONG works to inspire youth to be teachers, mentors and leaders for their peers, schools, families and communities.

To learn more, visit www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/

SOURCE A Dollar A Day Foundation

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