Open Minds 50/50 Draw Helps Fund Education

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Open Minds

THUNDER BAY – Open Minds awarded one lucky Thunder Bay resident with $10,755.00 to wind down 2019 in the Open Minds Lottery 50/50 draw. In addition, to the winnings, the proceeds of $10,755.00 from the lottery are going to Canadian Mental Health Association Thunder Bay Branch. The Branch is directing all proceeds from the lottery to help fund their education and training programs that help reduce the stigma around mental health issues our community faces.

Open Minds developed the concept for a 50/50 lottery when hearing about the Stubbing’s family commitment to encouraging open conversations about suicide and to raise awareness in the hopes of preventing others from suffering the same fate through their annual golf tournament held this past September.

“We quickly realized that we (Open Minds Committee) had a story to tell too relating to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Together, we feel we’re breaking down the barriers of stigma, opening doors to having conversations about mental health issues and how it affects us all,” Irene Dahl, Committee member for Open Minds said

“Thunder Bay residents bought 5,000 tickets leading up to the holiday season to help community members from across the region who rely on the mental health expertise that Canadian Mental Health Association Thunder Bay Branch provides.  What truly amazed us was the number of people who opened up and shared their own experiences with mental illness and suicide,” adds Grant Eklund, Committee Chair, Open Minds

The 50/50 lottery was a community affair with support from local businesses and organizations coming on board to support the administration costs so that all dollars raised from ticket sales could go directly to the grand prize winner and Canadian Mental Health Association Thunder Bay Branch.

“We are so grateful to the Open Minds 50/50 Lottery Draw, the funding provided will allow us to deliver a new and innovative mental health education programming for our community. Mental Health educational programming is vital to the services we provide and aims to help our clients gain back their confidence and learn new life skills which we hope will help them return to independence, healthy living and provides strategies to navigate their journey to well-being. We would like to express our gratitude to the Open Minds committee members, sponsors and most of all the community members who purchased tickets from the lottery,” said Jennifer Hyslop, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association Thunder Bay Branch.

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