Waypoint's 9th Annual Shine the Light Gala presented by TD Bank was an incredible evening filled with great music, inspiring words and remarkable people and we are proud to share that more $90,000 was raised to support young people across the region with a new preventative online mental health program for youth.

Our heartfelt thanks to Sophia Fracassi and her band for performing amazing songs and sharing inspiring stories, to Emma Reynolds for her incredible performance, to our sponsors including TD Bank, Honeywell, and TBLL Advocates, our partners at FEAST Catering And Events , Splash Floral and Event Design, and Fresh by Leanne, and to all those who joined us in-person at the Midland Cultural Centre and virtually, purchased an online auction item and made a donation. Your contributions and dedication to making mental health a priority is remarkable.

With Children's Mental Health Ontario reporting an increase in rates of depression, anxiety, irritability, and inattention in children with no previous diagnoses, and a recent SickKids study that found approximately 70 per cent of children and youth are reporting a worsening of their mental health since the start of the pandemic, the time is NOW to support preventative mental health care for youth. Click here to view our video on the Youth Resiliency Program that gala proceeds are helping to fund.

If you would like to support Waypoint's work in helping kids and young adults maintain their mental wellbeing, build resiliency skills and find the help they need before a crisis occurs, visit our website at www.givewaypoint.com. Because of people like you, change is happening.

From all of us at Waypoint, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for creating a brighter future.