As the pace of our lives has slowed in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have collectively had time to reflect on the things that matter most. Perhaps you’ve pulled your loved ones closer, whether in person or virtually, devoted more time to your hobbies, or given thought to your legacy.
There comes a point in our lives when we think about the type of world that we want to leave behind for our children and grandchildren. Perhaps you are passionate about the idea of making your Island community a better place – even beyond your lifetime.
Legacy giving is a heartfelt way to support the things you care about most, now and in the future. Thanks to the generosity of legacy donors, Children’s Health Foundation has been investing in the health of Island kids for more than 90 years, bringing essential health services closer to home and transforming the lives of children and youth living with physical and mental health challenges.
Legacy gifts help kids like Emma, who was born five weeks premature in 2013 with only one kidney, a cleft palate, a weak immune system, and weak throat muscles, leading to a month-long stay in the NICU at Victoria General Hospital. Her parents, who live in Campbell River, were grateful that a social worker told them about Jeneece Place, a true home away from home and support system that kept the new parents close to their baby during that overwhelming month.
“The day we were driving home to Campbell River, we got a call from Dogwood Place to set up her first appointments for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. That support for Emma started immediately,” say her parents.
For the next five years, Emma attended early intervention programs and classes at Campbell River’s Dogwood Place and at the Queen Alexandra Centre’s Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic in Victoria, both funded by Children’s Health Foundation. Thanks to this early support, six-year-old Emma is now thriving.
“I don’t even know where we would be at in this stage if we didn’t have all that support,” says Ricci. “Every thought, care, or penny given from someone to Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island means the world to us. It all helped us raise Emma.”
In addition to offering support to kids with physical health challenges, Children’s Health Foundation is dedicated to supporting the mental health of youth on the Island and surrounding islands. Our donors are committed to funding mental health supports for our young people through centres like Ledger House at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health and Foundry Victoria, which has helped countless young people like Maude.
From the time she was fifteen years old, Maude struggled with depression and anxiety. To combat her mental health challenges, she turned to alcohol and drugs. And it quickly spiralled out of her control.
When Maude realized she needed help and was ready to make a change, Foundry Victoria was there. She saw trusting doctors, received counselling, and entered a treatment centre.
With Maude able to access the support she needed, she was able to get her life back on track and found a way to help other struggling youth when she was hired to work at Foundry Victoria. As a peer support worker, she helps fellow youth find resources, whether that’s a food bank, a counsellor, or a psychiatrist. And if the clinic can’t see the client that same day, Maude is a listening ear right then and there.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, countless Island youth struggling with their mental health have accessed the support they need. According to Maude, “I think if Foundry hadn’t been there for me when I was ready, it’s hard to say whether or not I’d be sitting here today. There’s a chance I wouldn’t be.”
If offering a helping hand to Island kids and youth in need is a cause close to your heart, consider learning more about leaving a legacy for children’s health.
While we know kids may only be 21% of our Island’s population, they are 100% of our future. By becoming a legacy donor to Children’s Health Foundation, you can ensure Island kids and youth like Emma and Maude have access to the care they need for decades to come.
For more information about leaving a legacy for Island kids, you can contact Jane Evans, Leadership & Legacy Giving Manager at jane.evans@islandkidsfirst.com or 250-940-4950 x111.
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