More than $50,000 donated to help Vancouver's homeless and at-risk youth
Global News : Friday, May 25, 2012 6:10 PM
Left to right - actor and Virgin Unite ambassador Cory Monteith;Maureen Webb;Project Limelight Society co-founder;Sir Richard Branson;Virgin Group founder;Donalda Weaver;Project Limelight Society co-founder;Jocelyn Helland;manager;Broadway Youth Resource Centre;and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson;join young participants of the Project Limelight Society to announce Virgin Mobile Canada and Virgin Unite's $50,000 grant to Project Limelight and the Broadway Youth Resource Centre
Photo Credit: Submitted ,
Sir Richard Branson and Glee star Cory Monteith were in town on Friday to announce a significant donation to the Broadway Youth Resource Centre (BYRC) and Project Limelight Society.
The grants, valued at $26,500 for Limelight, and $25,000 for BYRC, come from Virgin Mobile Canada and Virgin Unite, and were raised from the proceeds of the Virgin Mobile’s 2011 RE*Generation phone.
“I love finding any excuse to come back to Vancouver, especially when I have an opportunity to work with Richard to help at-risk youth,” said Monteith. “By teaming up with Virgin Unite and the RE*Generation movement, we’re finding real ways to end youth homelessness – especially in Vancouver where the need is so great.”
Branson agreed, saying a single program can ignite change.
“A year after Cory and I introduced the RE*Generation phone, Virgin Mobile customers have helped raise the funds to make promising progress," he said. "With 65,000 youth who don’t have a place to call home each night across Canada, organizations like Project Limelight and Broadway Youth Resource Centre are urgently needed to create new possibilities for youth to access resources and services that normally wouldn’t be available to them.”
Project Limelight
Part of a brand new partnership with Virgin Unite, Project Limelight Society is a free theatre development charity that inspires youth to awaken their imagination and creativity within the arts. The Vancouver-based program gives youth the skills to discover new talents while developing the confidence to make lasting decisions for the future. As a grant recipient, Project Limelight Society will use their $26,550 donation to support their year-round performing arts program, ongoing theatre workshops and a food security program in their local community.
“The performing arts provide a creative outlet which benefits young people in all aspects of their lives,” said Maureen Webb, co-founder. “Performing on stage and bringing a character to life takes confidence, self-esteem and courage – strengths developed at Project Limelight!"
For more details about Project Limelight Society, head to www.projectlimelightsociety.org
Broadway Youth Resource Centre
Located in the heart of Vancouver, Broadway Youth Resource Centre has been giving young people the chance to learn and develop new life skills since 1999. From health to housing services and everything in between, BYRC has continued to be a flagship multi-agency organization for homeless and at-risk youth in Vancouver. Utilizing their $25,000 grant, the organization will be able to create warm and welcoming Resource Room that will allow homeless youth to access a wide range of services that will help them gain knowledge, skills and confidence needed to create a better life for themselves.
“At Broadway Youth Resource Centre, we aim to provide a one-stop centre to all at-risk and homeless youth in Vancouver,” said Jocelyn Helland, manager. “Education, employment skills and counselling are just some of the services we can offer and with this RE*Generation grant, we’ll be able to continue providing further programs to youth between the ages of 12 and 24.”
How can you help?
1. Change For A Dollar: Virgin Mobile Members can add $1 to their mobile phone bill each month. The monthly dollar will then be directly donated to Virgin Unite and the RE*Generation movement
2. Text To Donate: Canadians can donate $5 to Virgin Unite and RE*Generation by texting REGEN to 30333
3. Sign The Petition: We’re asking Parliament to recognize November 17th as National Youth Homelessness Awareness Day (NYHAD). Head to virginmobile.ca/regen to add your name to our online petition and help make NYHAD a reality!
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