Pictured (left to right): Jenn Mulcaster (Wes For Youth Online Executive Director), Mattie Bower (Fund Development Officer, CMHA WW), Megan Brady (Communications Lead, CMHA WW), Stephanie Coratti (MM27 Co-Founder), Jake Karabela (Guelph Storm), and Beth King (Fund Development Manager, CMHA WW).
On September 6, McFadden’s Movement made its eighth annual donation with a record $30,000 – $15,000 each – to WES for Youth Online and the Canadian Mental Health Association, Waterloo-Wellington branch. The donation was made with the support of the Guelph Storm and veteran Jake Karabela. Since the Movement’s inaugural donation following the 2016-17 hockey season, a total of $158,000 has been donated in support of mental health resources.
The contribution was made possible largely due to yet another record breaking success of the Movement’s fourth annual Celebrity Charity Classic presented by Skyjack on July 19. The golf tournament, with incredible showing of support from sponsors, former and current teammates, and participants and volunteers, raised over $30,000.
“We are thrilled and beyond proud to donate $30,000 this year,” Garrett McFadden, founder of McFadden’s Movement, said. “It’s been amazing to see the momentum that the Movement has carried over the last eight years and we’re so excited to see what’s still to come. We’re thrilled to be able to donate once again to Wes For Youth Online and CMHA Waterloo-Wellington, and continue to see firsthand how the funds are being used to make a massive difference in our communities. A big thank-you to all of those who have donated, volunteered, voiced their support, and have kept the conversation around the Movement and mental health going.”
This year, in what has become a Guelph Storm tradition, Storm veteran and Guelph native Karabela helped make the donation on behalf McFadden.
“Obviously getting the opportunity to stand-in for this year’s record donation means a lot,” Karabela said. “I grew up watching Garrett, wanting to get to that level of hockey too but now that I’m here, you realize it’s so much bigger than just a game. There are so many things that we, as role models in the community, can do off the ice that can make a huge difference. I’m happy to try to do my part of to continue and support what Garrett has started and keep it moving forward through the Storm organization.”
Reaching $158,000 donated began following the 2016-17 campaign – the Movement’s first year running – with a $6,000 donation, only to be followed 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. In 2021, the Movement picked up its momentum once again, donating another $20,000. The momentum continued from there with two back-to-back $25,000 donations in 2022 and 2023.
“We are so honoured to continue to partner with McFadden’s Movement and spread the word about mental health,” Megan Brady, Communications Lead with CMHA Waterloo-Wellington, shared. “The funds raised have made a tremendous impact on youth mental health in our community and we were thrilled for Garrett to visit our new CMHA Waterloo-Wellington Children and Youth Services building to see firsthand how the funds raised are making a difference.”
WES for Youth Online echoed CMHA Waterloo-Wellington’s sentiments following the 2024 donation:
“At WES for Youth Online, our gratitude for McFadden Movement’s unwavering support is immeasurable,” Emma Fryday, Development Director at Wes For Youth Online, said. “Garrett and his team’s steadfast dedication fuels our mission and empowers countless young lives. Together, we are transforming mental health challenges into opportunities and creating a brighter future for the youth we serve. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey to ensure that all young people have access to free e-counselling to care for their mental health.”
The Movement extends a very gracious thank-you to everyone who has provided support in all ways, shapes, and forms to the goal of raising funds and ultimately awareness for mental health resources. The success experienced over the last eight years would not be possible without the help of an endless list of organizations, partners, and people.
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