Foundry offers youth aged 12-24 a spectrum of health and wellness services and supports – online and through community-based centres across BC. Today, Foundry got a $1.5 million boost thanks to a partnership between Bell and the Graham Boeckh Foundation.
In the lead up to Bell Let’s Talk Day, the Bell-Graham Boeckh Foundation Partnership announced a $1.5 million donation to St. Paul’s Foundation. The gift will support Foundry in its continuing mission to transform youth mental health and share knowledge and best practices provincially, nationally, and beyond.
Foundry is a growing network of community-based integrated service centres for youth aged 12-24 in communities across BC, and through virtual care. Whether in person or virtually, Foundry removes barriers for youth, their families, and caregivers by providing access to free and confidential primary and mental health services, substance use supports, youth and family peer support and social services – all under one roof.
Dr. Steve Mathias, Foundry’s Executive Director, is excited about the scope of work this donation will support. “It’s integral in moving us closer to our vision of transforming youth health and social services in BC, across Canada, and internationally,” he said.
His thoughts were echoed by Ian Boeckh, President, Graham Boeckh Foundation. “This investment will increase Foundry’s research capacity and put youth at the centre of research. It will provide young people with the care they deserve.”
Three transformative years
Over the next three years, the gift will be used to bolster Foundry’s Research and Knowledge Translation and Exchange (KTE) teams. The goal is to improve integrated health and social services for youth, their families, and caregivers in BC and to support emerging Integrated Youth Services (IYS) initiatives around the world.
“We are particularly pleased to invest in enhancing Foundry’s capacity to advance pan-Canadian collaboration with IYS networks around the country,” said Mary Deacon, the Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “This way, more young people and their families can get access to mental health services and supports in ways that best address their needs.”
With this increased capacity, Foundry’s Research and KTE teams will translate and mobilize research findings, data, and lessons learned from their 11 (soon-to-be 19) IYS centres and virtual services. Funding from the partnership will also give Foundry greater capacity to support emerging IYS networks and ultimately improve outcomes for all Canadian youth.
“The Foundry model works! As a supporter of Foundry and the backbone organization at Providence, it has long been the Foundation’s to share it with young people across the country,” said Dick Vollet, President and CEO of St. Paul’s Foundation. “Today, thanks to the Graham Boeckh Foundation and Bell, Canadian youth don’t have to feel alone.”
The gift is a part of the Bell-Graham Boeckh Foundation Partnership’s $10 million commitment to advance integrated systems of care for youth mental health across Canada through IYS. To date, Bell and the Graham Boeckh Foundation have contributed more than $3 million in philanthropic support to St. Paul’s Foundation, helping to forge the Foundry provincial initiative.
“Together, we are supporting youth, their families, and caregivers in living a good life.”
Dr. Steve Mathias
For more information about Foundry, please visit www.foundrybc.ca.