Hope, delivered: $2.2 million raised for mental health initiatives

Record number of grants to be awarded


OTTAWA – Canada Post employees and customers have once again delivered hope. The post office’s 2010 campaign for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health raised more than $2.2 million. The campaign’s success will result in a record number of community organizations who will receive funds from the Foundation in 2011. The Foundation provides much-needed funding to non-profit, community-based organizations that provide support and care for people coping with mental illness.

“The support shown to the Foundation and its mission to build the capacity of community mental health organizations will make a difference in people’s lives. We are very proud to provide this level of commitment to an issue that affects so many Canadians,” says James Roche, chairman of the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.

In 2010, $1.1 million was contributed a dollar or two at a time by customers in response to requests from our employees at post offices across the country last fall. Sales of Canada Post’s third annual Mental Health stamp contributed $306,000 (a dollar from the sale of each booklet of 10 stamps supports the Foundation). In addition, Canada Post’s employees this year pledged more than $320,000 to the Foundation through a payroll deduction program. Other employee fundraisers, including Canada Post employee Wayne Stremel’s cross-country bicycle ride, and support from Canada Post customers and suppliers put the fundraising campaign over its $2 million goal.

“The isolation and despair that often comes with mental illness makes it a disease like no other,” says Mr. Roche. “The organizations we’re helping – and those we’ll be able to help because of the success of this campaign – provide critical support systems. The need is significant, and we are grateful to Canada Post employees and their customers for making a difference.”

The outstanding efforts of Canada Post, its employees and all Canadians, means that, in its first three years, the Foundation will be able to provide $4.7 million in grants to community organizations across Canada. Approximately $2.5 million has already been granted to 51 non-profit organizations to deliver front-line care and other programming for mental health consumers, and more than $2 million will be distributed in 2011.

The Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health is a registered not-for-profit Foundation, operated at arms-length from Canada Post, with an independent board of trustees. Its audited financial statements are available to the public and more than 97.5 per cent of all donations received by the Foundation are used to fund projects by community-based organizations. Learn more, or apply for a grant at canadapost.ca/hope.