Saskatoon Community Foundation and Step Up for Mental Health are honoured to announce $148K in grants to mental health projects throughout Saskatchewan. The net proceeds from the sold-out Step Up for Mental Health run/walk in September in Saskatoon are being directed to 17 charities/not-for-profit organizations to deliver mental health support programs in Saskatchewan.

The Saskatoon Community Foundation and 321 Go Running – the operator of the Step Up for Mental Health run/walk – announced today that a total $148,000 has been awarded to 17 organizations.

“Thank you to the 6,000 participants and the incredible sponsors for helping provide funds to address the mental health challenges in our community,” said Jonathan Huntington, the event director of Step Up for Mental Health and the President of 321 Go Running, which produces running events for charitable causes in Saskatchewan.

Now in its sixth year, Step Up for Mental Health – with Cameco as presenting sponsor – is the largest run/walk in Saskatchewan. Immediately at the conclusion of each year’s edition, charities and not-for-profit organizations are invited to apply for funding from the net proceeds of the event.

“We had nearly 50 organization apply for funding this year, which shows the large demand for mental health services,” continued Huntington. “The four-member adjudication panel, which included mental health and community engagement expertise, had difficult decisions to make.”

The 17 successful applicants are:

Autism Services Saskatoon: $10,000

Boys Girls Club Saskatoon: $10,000

BridgePoint Centre for Eating Disorders: $10,000

Bring2Life Creative Counselling: $10,000

Caring Hearts: $10,000

Crocus Cooperative: $10,000

Family Service Saskatoon: $10,000

Hope Restored Canada: $10,000

OUTSaskatoon: $8,096

Possibilities Recovery Centre: $5,000

Prairie Harm Reduction: $10,000

Royal University Hospital Foundation: $10,000

SARBI: $10,000

Saskatchewan Abilities Council Inc.: $5,000

Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association: $5,000

Saskatoon Industry Education Council: $5,000

YMCA Regina: $10,000