On Wednesday, August 24, Garrett McFadden and McFadden’s Movement (MM27) donated $25,000 – $12,500 each – to WES For Youth Online and the Canadian Mental Health Association, Waterloo-Wellington branch. The donation, which is the Movement’s highest single donation to date, brings the running total donated by the Movement to over $100,000 over six years.
Acting as the pinacle of the Movement’s fundraising efforts, MM27 held its second annual Celebrity Charity Classic presented by Skyjack on July 25 at Cutten Fields. The golf tournament, with another incredible showing of support from sponsors, former and current teammates, and participants, raised over $20,000.
“Reaching two new milestones is something we never thought we could accomplish when MM27 first started back in 2016. First, donating our highest single total of $25,000 this year just keeps us motivated to continue trying to make a difference for mental health awareness and resources like WES For Youth Online and CMHA Waterloo-Wellington,” McFadden, founder of McFadden’s Movement, said. “Surpassing $100,000 donated in six years is incredible and something we definitely could not have done without the help of so many people standing behind the Movement. We can’t thank everyone enough who helped to make this possible and we can’t wait to reach new milestones down the road.”
For the Movement, this year’s donation brings the official total donated to mental health resources to the $103,000 over six years. Following the 2016-17 campaign – the Movement’s first year running – McFadden donated $6,000 and followed it up with $20,000 in 2018. The Movement also donated $1,000 to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) in support of the Humboldt Broncos tragic bus accident that same year. In 2019, McFadden made his second consecutive $20,000 donation, bringing the total donated to $47,000 in less than three years. In 2020, in the face of cancelling the MM27 Road Hockey Tournament and what was to be the inaugural MM27 Celebrity Charity Classic, the Movement managed to donate $10,000 to mental health resources. Last year featured a quick rebound from the pandemic with McFadden and the Movement donating another $20,000 to Wes For Youth Online and CMHA Waterloo-Wellington in 2021.
“CMHA Waterloo-Wellington is so thankful for the continued support of McFadden’s Movement. This is the sixth year we have benefitted from the hard work of Garrett and McFadden’s Movement as they build awareness and fundraise to support community mental health services,” Beth King, Fund Development Manager for CMHA Waterloo-Wellington, shared. “McFadden’s Movement is filling a much-needed gap in funding, and third-party fundraisers such as this are essential for CMHA Waterloo-Wellington to provide programs and services in our community.”
WES for Youth Online echoed CMHA Waterloo-Wellington’s sentiments following the 2022 donation:
“We are so grateful to McFadden’s Movement and all those involved in the MM27 tournament for their continued support of WES for Youth Online and their generous donation of $12,500,” WES for Youth Online Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Jordyn O’Connor, said. “Together, we will provide youth in Ontario with much needed mental health counselling that is ongoing, inclusive, and safe—at no cost to youth or their families. Thank you to McFadden’s Movement for your dedication to bettering youth mental health across the province.”
The Movement extends a very gracious thank-you to everyone who has stepped in all ways, shapes, and forms to support MM27’s goal of raising awareness and ultimately funds for mental health resources. The success experienced over the last six years would not be remotely possible without the help of so many.
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