Camp BELIEVE, an initiative funded by the J&W Murphy Foundation, is a week-long summer camp for children impacted by a parent’s mental illness. Campers make meaningful connections with others who have similar family experiences and build valuable skills that help them succeed outside of camp. (Photos courtesy of Brigadoon Village).
November 15, 2024
We are thrilled to celebrate National Philanthropy Day with the announcement of a $1,000,000 gift from the J&W Murphy Foundation in support of the mental wellness of Nova Scotians.
“The J&W Murphy Foundation has long been a generous supporter of our work to fund local programs that provide vital services and supports at the community level — programming that offers help and hope to individuals who are struggling,” says Starr Cunningham, President & CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. “This remarkable donation will allow us to sustain and even increase our funding capacity for community-based mental health and addictions organizations.”
Awarded over four years, the $1-million gift will enhance several existing J&W Murphy Foundation-funded initiatives focused on youth, suicide prevention, vulnerable populations, and the mental wellness of Nova Scotians employed in the arts. The gift also launched the new South Shore Area Grant (SSAG) to specifically serve communities in Digby, Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, and Yarmouth counties.
The first SSAG was awarded in October to support the Thrive Thursdays: Mental Health Clinic program at Our Health Centre in Chester, NS. It provides mental health appointments to those who wish to learn skills and tools to help manage mild-to-moderate mental health concerns.
“We are particularly pleased to be supporting the mental health of Nova Scotians who live along the South Shore,” says Lisa Murphy of the J&W Murphy Foundation. “Our parents, Janet and Bill, raised our family and built their business in Liverpool, so we know it can be more challenging to access help in rural areas of our province. We are keen to see this funding create circles of support in Nova Scotia’s smaller communities, something the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia does very well.”
The J&W Murphy Foundation gift reflects a growing commitment to fund mental wellness initiatives in rural and underserved areas that foster a sense of community connection and resilience.
“National Philanthropy Day celebrates charitable work that makes a difference, creates change in communities, and enriches our world,” says Cunningham. “We sincerely thank the J&W Murphy Foundation for embracing the true essence of this day and modeling its importance to others. Together, we really can change the way people think.”