On Saturday, March 3, Sarah Arsenault from the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation dropped by our workshop in Surrey and presented us with a cheque for $10,000. The funds will go towards our Supported Program for Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) pilot program.
“We’re thrilled with the help of the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation and their generous support of our pilot program,” says Barbara Coates, Dan’s Legacy’s executive director. “The young people we’re working with are an underserved and very much at-risk group in our community, and these workshops are helping them to better understand their diagnosis in a welcoming and supportive environment.”
“Youth diagnosed with FASD are statistically more likely to endure trauma, are at risk of poor life outcomes such as early school dropout, justice involvement, entrenched addiction and unemployment,” says Allison Pooley, the Asante Centre’s executive director. “Specialized support services are rare in British Columbia, though youth who are appropriately supported can achieve positive results.”
Andrew, 16, is one of the youth with FASD who is taking part in the program. He’s extremely social but doesn’t have any friends, and was reluctant to take part in the workshops. He now says he loves going because the Mentor makes it easy to understand his diagnosis, and feels accepted and welcomed by his peer group.
Richard Taylor, Chair of the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation, hopes that the donation will benefit youth in need. “We are pleased to be part of such a transformative program, and look forward to seeing lives changed through the FASD initiative.”
The pilot program wraps up at the end of April but plans are underway to continue the workshops in the Fall.
If you or someone you know is interested in taking part, please contact Tom Littlewood (Program Director) at 604-999-9136 or Barbara Coates (Executive Director) at 604-329-9186, or [email protected].
Pictured in the photo are (L-R): Tom Littlewood (Program Director, Dan’s Legacy), Sarah Arsenault (Director, PBC Health Foundation), Myles Himmelreich (Program Mentor), Barbara Coates (Executive Director, Dan’s Legacy).
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About Dan’s Legacy
Dan’s Legacy provides therapeutic counselling and life-skills intervention programs to youth affected by trauma-based mental health and addictions issues. In the past three years Dan’s Legacy has helped over 150 youth meet their educational, housing and life-goals.
About Pacific Blue Cross
Pacific Blue Cross is British Columbia’s number one health benefits provider. Based in Burnaby, B.C., the not-for-profit organization provides health, dental, life, disability and travel coverage for 1 in 3 British Columbians through group benefits and individual plans. As part of its mission to improve health and wellbeing in B.C., Pacific Blue Cross proactively supports charitable organizations across the province working to improve health outcomes.