Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2010 (seeking sponsorships)
Last year, Isabella Mori (trusted and dear friend of mine, mental health specialist, counsellor and all around amazing woman) and I decided to take it upon ourselves to organize the first-ever Mental Health Camp (website, Twitter account). Two months of intense preparation, extremely hard work and collaboration with a number of fantastic folks in the Vancouver social media community after we decided to take this project on, we succeeded in creating a safe space to empower people afflicted with mental illness and fight the stigma associated with depression, ADHD, bipolarism, etc. We obtained sponsorship (lunch with the BC Mental Health Foundation and LunchBox, writing materials with Patterson Brands, space with now-defunct WorkSpace).
Several things have changed for the better since last year. First, we learned a lot about what we didn’t do well last year and we’ve decided to change things for 2010. Second, we *know* that it takes a lot of work and we’ve decided to start putting our feelers out there for two of the most important sponsorships we need – space and food (breakfast/lunch/dinner and coffee). Third, both Isabella and I have much larger and stronger online social networks.
You’d be surprised how much better things flow when you have food available for the participants’ consumption. The fact that we had lunch together made collaboration and informal conversation flow much more easily. Moreover, we really want to make sure that we have a space that is welcoming and warm, and large enough to hold everyone together. So, I’m throwing it out there – which businesses/non-profits will help and sponsor MHC YVR ’10?
We are also thinking of approaching the organizations who have something to do with mental health (Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Mental Health Foundation, Coast Foundation, and of course the Mental Health Commission of Canada with their Anti-Stigma Project), but it’d be great if we could secure location and food/coffee break sponsorship before I went on holidays. Any and all help, of course, much appreciated.
Amongst the great news – Mental Health Camp Toronto is happening too in 2010, so we’ll have an opportunity to share ideas and compare notes (I’m a comparative public policy analyst, after all). We will, of course, be seeking volunteers and additional help closer to the date. Please do share this entry with your networks, any and all help is always appreciated.
Related posts:
- Volunteering and sponsoring Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2011
- Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2011: Diversity in Mental Health
- After a very successful Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2010 #mhcyvr10
- Child-minding and Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2010 #mhcyvr10
- After a successful Mental Health Camp Vancouver ’09, towards a MHC ’10
Raul you know you have access to all my contacts and services you just need to let me know what you need. Amuse Consulting is all about helping out in the community
I think we can arrange to sponsor a coffee break or two.
As for space, not sure how much you’re looking for so hesitant to make many suggestions at this time.
As one of the #MHCTO (Mental Health Camp Toronto) organizers, I’d like to thank you and Isabella for all your guidance thus far on our journey.
If people want more info about the TO event, please check out http://mentalhealthcamptoronto.eventbrite.com.
Thanks!
[...] for the first Mental Health Camp last year and now he’s seeking sponsorships for the 2010 Mental Health Camp in Vancouver. Seeing how I was a psychology major in university, this topic is near and dear to my [...]
You know I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.