L-R: Wayne Berg, Chief Commercial Officer, Coast Capital Savings, Dr. Lakshmi Yatham, Regional Head of Psychiatry and Regional Program Medical Director, Vancouver Coastal Health & Providence Healthcare, Barbara Grantham – President & CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, Bruce Schouten, Interim president and CEO, Coast Capital Savings, Dr. Raymond Lam, Director, Mood Disorders Centre and BC Leadership Chair in Depression Research, Jeff Wong, Chief Business Transformation Officer, Coast Capital Savings, Candice Tsang, Vice President, Leadership Giving, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, John Andru, Associate Director, Major Gifts, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, Diane Lac, Coordinator, Fundraising Events, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and Lawrie Ferguson, Chief Marketing Officer, Coast Capital Savings
Now in it’s 17th year, the Coast Capital Savings Charity Golf Tournament raised a record-breaking $300,000, bringing the total raised by this annual event to over $2.8 million.
“The fundraising success of this tournament comes down to commitment,” says Jeff Wong, Coast Capital’s Chief Business Transformation Officer. “The companies who sponsor it and the golfers who participate join us in a shared commitment to raising awareness of mental health issues, advancing vital research, and helping young people and their families touched by mental illness. Awareness and openness about mental health issues have come a long way in 17 years, but there’s much more to do, and at Coast Capital, we’re ready to do it.”
The sold-out tournament brought together more than 200 participants to raise funds for VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. Coast Capital Savings has been a long-time supporter of youth mental health, and the funds raised will support mental health research tailored to youth that is happening right here in British Columbia.
“Coast Capital Savings has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the community,” says Barbara Grantham, CEO VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, “By mobilizing awareness about mental health and supporting high impact research, we can offer hope and healing to individuals and families across BC affected by mental illness.”
Donor support has helped researchers make transformative strides in mental health intervention and care. This includes everything from advancing diagnosis, to developing new approaches in therapies.
“When you look at the numbers – 10 to 20% of Canadian youth affected by mental illness and 3.2 million Canadian teenagers are at risk of depression – you realize that by supporting mental health research, the effect of our dollars multiplies. One breakthrough can change many lives,” says Bruce Schouten, Interim CEO at Coast Capital Savings. “Then look beyond the numbers to the real people behind them: a youth struggling, a parent or guardian losing sleep with worry, anxious siblings and friends. It’s clear our support for this cause is well-placed.”