With Midtown’s Help, MINDSTRONG Raises 1.8 Million Dollars for the Jewish General Hospital’s Psychiatry Department
Posted: May 30, 2017 in Chains
Midtown Athletic Club
MONTREAL, QB – On Sunday, May 7, 2017, Midtown Sanctuaire hosted the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) Foundation and Auxiliary’s 3rd annual CIBC MINDSTRONG fitness event. An unprecedented $1.8 million dollars was raised to support mental health services at the JGH.
Over 250 participants, as well as 50 nurses, the Psychiatry Department and staff from the JGH engaged in all-day exercise events from tennis, to spinning, to boot camp and yoga. Highlights of the day started with a heartfelt welcome video from Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and a performance by singer/songwriter Isaac Basal. Honorees, Vince and Maria Guzzo, were commended for their support of youth mental health. The MCs, TSN690’s Tony Marinaro and TV host and social advocate Malik Shaheed, kept the crowd entertained and pumped for success!
The 1.8 million dollars raised will directly support the much-needed renovation of the Psychiatry Inpatient Unit at the JGH, as well as maintain and enhance many crucial mental health programs that help thousands of patients each year. CIBC MINDSTRONG will create more outreach, which means greater access to care and education, the reduction of the stigma associated with mental illness and enhanced timely crisis intervention.
Mental illness affects 1 in 5 Canadians, and for 75% of those affected it begins in early childhood, adolescence or young adulthood.
“Every day we face the devastating effects of mental illness on patients and families – from common disorders such as depression, anxiety and addiction, to severe mental illness including bipolar and psychotic disorders and the tragic consequences of mental illness; poverty, social isolation and suicide. It’s a huge comfort to have the support of the Montreal community to help address these challenges.”
– Dr. Karl Looper, Chief of Psychiatry at the JGH
The CIBC MINDSTRONG team would sincerely like to thank all of their generous benefactors and participants who made this incredible fundraising event possible. The donations, sponsorships and participant pledges, and a silent auction that brought in over $34,000, solidified the $1.8 million raised in total. Furthermore, with a fundraising cost ratio of 3%, MINDSTRONG was one of the most cost-efficient fundraising events to be held in Montreal this year.
“A feat we are extremely proud of,” says Larry Sidel, Vice-President and COO of the JGH Foundation and chief organizer of CIBC MINDSTRONG. “I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of donor support; the resounding success of MINDSTRONG is a great step to removing the stigma of mental health and our aim is to keep this momentum going strong!”
For more information on CIBC MINDSTRONG, the JGH Psychiatric resources or to make a donation in support of mental health at the JGH, please visit www.jghmindstrong.com.
