GUELPH – The Mask Off Masquerade raised $120,000 for The Grove Wellington Guelph and the Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington on Feb. 25.
The money will be used to raise awareness about youth mental health and to expand services in the community.
Elinesky Schuett of RBC Dominion Securities hosted the annual event, which over the last five years has raised a total of $300,000.
Guests were encouraged to wear masquerade masks, symbolic of living “under a mask” with mental illness and raising awareness of the importance of providing mental health support and resources for local youth in Wellington County and Guelph.
“The Mask Off committee and I are honoured to help raise awareness and funds for the Grove Wellington Guelph and the Children’s Foundation,” said founder and organizer Charmaine Collins.
“We host the annual Mask Off event with the hopes of making a difference in the mental health and wellbeing of the youth in our community.”
Collins added, “As someone who had my own mental health struggles as a youth, I understand the importance of accessible mental health services and I am proud to see the community coming together to help ‘take the mask off’ of mental health.”
The Grove Wellington Guelph chief development officer Jeffery Hoffman said his organization is “honoured to receive such amazing support from Mask Off and the community.
“The $120,000 raised through this event will provide essential mental health support and wellness resources for youth in our community.”
The Grove Wellington Guelph is a “one-stop-shop” for youth aged 12 to 26, designed to meet a wide range of needs including mental health, substance use, primary care, education, employment, training, housing and other community and social services.
Emma Rogers, CEO of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington, said the foundation is “so proud to have been part of an event that will have such an incredible impact on the mental health of children and youth in our community.
“These dollars will allow children and youth to get the support they need to continue to grow and thrive.”
The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington connects children and youth to mental health counselling sessions.
These youth need mental health support, but do not qualify for other no-cost services and face financial barriers to accessing private counselling.
To learn more about The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington visit childrensfoundation.org.
For more information about The Grove Wellington Guelph, visit thegrovehubs.ca.
