December 11, 2019 – Coast Capital Savings recently provided a grant of $24,000 to the Dan’s Legacy Foundation in support of the charity’s “East Van Dan’s” program. The funds will provide counselling and land-based intervention therapies to at-risk Indigenous youth.
Youth such as “Michael”, an 18 year old Indigenous young man who was heavily involved in gang activity, addicted to methamphetamines and heroin, and had overdosed several times in the past year. On one land intervention trip “Michael” found the opportunity to rest and experience an adrenaline rush in an organic form, as well as connect with peers in a positive, and healthy way. Following the trip he was provided with supportive housing and befriended a rescue dog. Despite a relapse he is back on the path to wellness and is strongly focused on staying clean.
“About 50% of our clients participating in East Van Dan’s are First Nations youth living with the effects of intergenerational trauma. Working with our Indigenous therapists, the youth are benefitting from the healing of the land, which is having a profound impact on their mental, physical and spiritual well-being,” says Barbara Coates, Dan’s Legacy’s executive director. “Coast Capital Savings has been a great friend to Dan’s Legacy over the past few years and we’re grateful for their continued support.”
“Coast Capital Savings is committed to supporting youth in our local communities,” explains Maureen Young, Director of Community Leadership at Coast Capital Savings. “Through our Community Investment Grants, we are able to support youth-serving organizations like Dan’s Legacy who provide essential programming and support to local youth who need some extra help. We are thrilled to enable programs like East Van Dan’s provide young people with access to resources to help them build the foundation that will support them to navigate life and build a strong financial future.”
Dan’s Legacy’s East Van Dan’s program is the evolution of its successful Supported Program for Youth with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) pilot, which it launched last fall in partnership with the Asante Centre in Surrey. The new program supports at-risk youth in East Vancouver and the Downtown Eastside, who experience higher rates of childhood trauma, including inter-generational trauma. Dan’s Legacy addresses the challenges that these youth face through evidence-based therapeutic counselling programs, and by working with local groups to strengthen the resiliency already imbedded in the community, such as: belonging, connection, healing, and culture.
Dan’s Legacy has partnered with the Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre, Vancouver Children’s Hospital RICHER (Responsive Intersectoral Children’s Health, Education and Research Initiative) collaborative of health practitioners, REACH Health Centre, Broadway Youth Resource Centre, and the local Hip Hop Drop (a weekly community drop-in space for youth age 12-18) in the delivery of East Van Dan’s.
To date, the youth have taken part in land-based therapeutic excursions to Tofino and Salt Spring Island, as well as the Pulling Together Canoe Journey in July and a trip to Bella Coola to witness grizzly bears salmon fishing. Future experiences are planned for the spring and summer of 2020.
If you or someone you know is asking for help, please contact Tom Littlewood (Program Director) at [email protected] or 604-999-9136.
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 four years Dan’s Legacy has helped over 300 youth meet their educational, housing and life-goals.
About Coast Capital Savings
Coast Capital Savings is Canada’s largest credit union by membership and B.C.’s first credit union to become a federal credit union. Owned by its 572,000 members, Coast Capital offers banking and investment services digitally and through its 52 branches in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Okanagan, and Vancouver Island regions of British Columbia. An Imagine Canada Caring Company and a Certified B Corporation in recognition of its social performance, Coast Capital invests 10 per cent of its bottom line in youth-focused community organizations, programs, partnerships and events. The credit union has been recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ and holds a Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation. Coast Capital has a history of introducing innovative products to help their members achieve financial wellbeing including Canada’s first free chequing account from a full- service financial institution and Help Extras®, enabling members to invest in their future. To learn more, visit coastcapitalsavings.com.