DARTMOUTH, NS, March 27, 2012 /CNW/ - The Medavie Health Foundation today announced $250,000 in funding to Laing House as part of a three-year partnership in support of Youth Speak.
Youth Speak is an award-winning education program developed by Laing House members. Youth volunteers share their personal journeys through an interactive, multi-media workshop with teachers, students and community and business groups. The program helps to advance mental health awareness, break down barriers and reduce the stigma and isolation that often surround mental illness.
"Laing House Youth Speak is an innovative program that empowers youth living with a mental illness while raising awareness in the community," said Ruth Rappini, Vice-President, Medavie Health Foundation. "We are proud to provide funding that will enable Laing House to broaden the impact of Youth Speak beyond the Halifax Regional Municipality, reaching new audiences in boardrooms, classrooms and communities across the province and beyond."
"We are very excited about our new partnership with the Medavie Health Foundation," said Maureen Fraser-McLaughlin, Executive Director of Laing House. "Together, we hope to reduce stigma and break down the barriers of mental illness through the Youth Speak Program."
The Medavie Health Foundation is focused on developing partnerships and supporting programs that promote long-term lasting impacts to support mental health in children and youth and the prevention and self management of type 2 diabetes.
To date, the Foundation has committed more than $1.2 million to single-and multi-year grant and partnership programs. With the launch of the formal grants program and website earlier this year, this level of support will be expanded to reach communities and organizations across Atlantic Canada.
To apply for funding through the Medavie Health Foundation Grants Program, please visit www.medaviehealthfoundation.ca. The deadline for 2012 applications is April 30, 2012. Organizations must be a registered charity offering programs in one of the core cause areas.
About the Medavie Health Foundation
The Medavie Health Foundation is funded by Medavie Blue Cross and our partner, Medavie EMS, as part of a long-term commitment to make a lasting impact in the communities where our employees and customers live and work. The Foundation is focused on two core causes of particular concern to Canadians - child and youth mental health and type 2 diabetes. It aims to bring organizations and communities together through collaborative multi-year partnerships and to support grassroots, community-based initiatives through an annual grants program. For more information, visit us at www.medaviehealthfoundation.ca. Follow us on Twitter: @MedavieFdn
As a not-for-profit organization, Medavie Blue Cross is proud to commit an annual social dividend of 10 per cent of our net income to the Medavie Health Foundation.
About Laing House
Laing House is a peer support organization for youth with mental illness where members can embrace their unique gifts and find their way in a caring and supportive environment. Laing House youth are between 16 and 30 years of age and have a diagnosis of mood disorder, psychosis and/or anxiety disorder. It is a youth-driven, community-based organization where young people who are living with a mental illness can get the support they need to rebuild their lives. For more information, visit www.lainghouse.org.
Joanne Elliott
Community Relations Advisor, Medavie Health Foundation
Tel: 902-496-7189
Mobile: 902-266-9287
[email protected]
Maureen Fraser-McLaughlin
Executive Director, Laing House Association
902-425-9018 ext 223
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