During the London Knight's home game at Budweiser Gardens on Friday, March 16th, Finch Auto Group had just under 20 employee volunteers participating in running a 50/50 draw and purchasing tickets with all proceeds going to support the Mental Health Care program at Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care building in London.
This program helps people living with mental illness recover and reintegrate back into their community. Research shows a strong positive link between health and well-being and involvement in the creative arts. Art is a powerful tool for self-discovery and growth. Surveys conducted by St. Joseph’s Patient and Family Councils also indicate that their patients want access to more therapeutic activities as part of their care. Unfortunately, recovery-based art therapy programs are not part of the standard of mental health care in Ontario.
St. Joseph’s is advancing care and research by leading a new Recovery Through Creative Arts program at Parkwood Institute’s Mental Health Care Building, in partnership with the London Arts Council.
Over a 2-year period, this program will allow patients the opportunity to receive in-hospital mental health care to participate in group sessions such as music, visual art, drama and creative writing. These activities will enhance quality of life, provide an outlet for expression and reduce social isolation. At the same time, a research team will evaluate the impact of art therapy on helping people recover and transition from in-hospital care. The goal is to inform best practices by showing that art can help people with mental illness get their lives back.
The 2-year plan urgently requires private support of $85,350 to bring this program to thousands of patients and potentially create lasting change to mental health care in Ontario. With the help of the volunteers from Finch Auto Group, approximately $15,000.00 was raised for this phenomenal cause! A HUGE thank you to all the volunteers who donated their time and to everyone who also donated money by purchasing tickets!
Finally, we’d like to congratulate Joanne the lucky winner of our 50/50 draw! Joanne is also ironically a loyal Finch Auto Group customer - who was the lucky winner of the 50/50 draw!
Thank you again to everyone for coming out and supporting such an important organization!