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Where does the money go?
2025/2026
This past year was an important year of growth, advocacy, and community support for FITG! FITG received charitable status, marking a significant milestone and strengthening our ability to advocate for improved access to evidence-based mental health services.
Throughout the year, Mike and Fiona continued advocating at the federal, provincial, and local levels. They met with representatives from Ontario Health atHome, including Graham Woodward and Dr. Paul Kurdyak, and continued discussions with MP Kelly DeRidder and MPP Catherine Fife about strengthening mental health services in Waterloo Region and beyond.
One of the year's most encouraging developments was the opportunity to connect with Graham Woodward, Vice President of the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health. Following a referral from Health Minister Sylvia Jones, Mike and Fiona met with Graham twice and have continued to remain in contact, sharing the perspectives of individuals and families with lived experience. We are very encouraged by this connection and the potential for meaningful improvements to Ontario's mental health system.
At the local level, Fiona and Mike served on the F.A.C.E. (Families for Awareness, Change and Education) committee with the Waterloo Region Health Network, advocating for greater family involvement in discharge planning, improved recreational services for patients, and appropriate mental health training for staff. Mike also served on a planning committee focused on developing a local crisis clinic to improve access to timely mental health crisis services.
We were also honoured to have the K-W Rusty’s Hockey Tournament direct its fundraising efforts to the Foundation. An incredible $4,545.65 was raised during a weekend filled with hockey, fellowship, music, food, and fun. These funds will help us continue our mission to “fill in the gaps” in mental health services in our community and beyond.
How Your Support Makes a Difference
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can continue working toward initiatives such as wellness kits and T-shirts for participants in the annual Tournament of Hope, bringing mental health speakers to approximately 1,200 high school students and 225 basketball players, and supporting community programs that fill gaps in the mental health system. These may include case navigator positions, programs supporting individuals while they wait for treatment, and home-based mental health services.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported the Foundation through their time, workplace matching programs, financial donations, and words of encouragement.
We are also pleased that, with our new charitable status, we can now provide official charitable donation receipts. Donations can be made by cheque or through our website using debit, credit card, or monthly giving options. https://www.fitg.org/support-us
Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us bring hope, compassion, education, and meaningful support to individuals and families affected by mental illness. Together, we can continue to make a difference.
2023/2024
In 2023/2024 - The funds raised went towards a new crisis clinic that opened in Kitchener. See link below. This is a game changer in treating mental health: using a compassionate approach to support individuals who don’t have to go to the hospital. Thank you for those of you who donated to this important cause.
We are currently a not for profit organization working towards our charitable status.
We are so grateful for any support you can provide to our foundation. All funds will go towards the following initiatives this coming year 2024/2025:
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Supporting the annual Tournament of Hope through purchasing wellness kits and t-shirts for each basketball player
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Supporting the fees for a guest speaker to speak to 1200 high school students and approximately 225 basketball players
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Any additional funds will go towards community initiatives that focus on “filling the gaps” in our community such as case navigator positions, programs that support individuals while they are waiting for treatment and home based mental health services that provide hope and compassion to those struggling with mental illness
2022
In 2022, the funds received in Kaitlyn's honor went towards a NEW Case Navigator position to assist individuals who are being released from the hospital. The role assists individuals as they transition from hospital to the community. A crucial service that wasn't there for Kaitlyn.
Let's Make A Change
Donate, volunteer, & support the Kaitlyn Roth Memorial Foundation