Profiles of Foundation Volunteers
Michele
Choma
Social Worker, Specialty Clinics,
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
 Her clinics include Sexual Behaviour and Anger Management.
She is also a field instructor for the Faculty of Social Work at the University of
Toronto.
Volunteer Roles -- Co-Chair of the United Way/CAMH Foundation Employee
Campaign for the past two years. Has volunteered for Courage to Come Back.
Why do you support the Foundation above and beyond your role at the Centre?
-- "I strongly believe in the projects supported by the Foundation, such as
the Chair in Nursing, which is where the funds raised by the Employee Campaign were
directed. The Foundation is key in terms of providing good, solid patient care."
Tell us about the highlights of your involvement -- "Through my involvement,
I have the opportunity to attend events staged by the Foundation. I was very impressed
by their work to educate the general public and corporate Canada about our issue,
which helps our clients from becoming even more disenfranchised and stigmatized.
"Meeting so many good, caring people from other programs at the Centre has
been wonderful, and a lot of fun. And being involved allows you to move things forward
in a meaningful way."
G.
Edmund King
Deputy Chairman, McCarvill Corporation
 Volunteer Roles -- Board Member, Chair of
Governance Committee, and Vice-Chair of Grants and Allocations Committee; Chaired
Special Gifts Division for Centred on Hope Campaign.
Why do you support the Centre? -- "I have observed first-hand the
debilitating impact that a bipolar condition, combined with alcoholism, has on an
individual. As a family member or friend, one experiences a sense of helplessness
as compulsive behaviour engulfs an otherwise rational, loving and responsible person.
The Centre is dedicated, in part, to endeavouring through research and direct intervention
to find some coping mechanisms to help lessen the burden of these destructive afflictions."
Tell us about the highlights of your involvement -- "The highlight
of my involvement is simply knowing that I am contributing to making a difference
for those suffering from mental illness and addictions in their varied and different
forms."
Rona
Maynard
Editor, Chatelaine Magazine
 Volunteer Roles -- Board Member since 1998.
Moderates public events; fundraises; worked on CAMH award-winning public awareness
campaign "There is Help...There is Hope"; Donor Recognition including leading
the donor wall project; Courage to Come Back Committee and Selection Sub-Committee
member.
Why do you support the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health? -- "I
am passionately interested in mental health, and it is a huge concern for Chatelaine
readers. We get letters every day and every week from people who are suffering from
depression or coping with someone else's depression. There is a real and growing
hunger to talk about these issues. At last people are opening up about mental health
concerns, and asking how can I go on like this? How can I get help and connect to
others?
"These aren't abstract issues for me. I've overcome depression; my family
has a history of Alzheimer's and alcoholism. Through my work with the Centre I can
support a cause that matters to me.
"If something is important to you, you should live it and breathe it. I'm
not going to be around forever and I'd like to make a difference in the time that
I have. It's part of getting older and becoming more aware of my mortality and potential
to be a force for good, and I think we all have that potential."
Tell us about the highlights of your involvement -- "It's energizing
to work with others who share my passion. I believe strongly that rich possibilities
exist for people who have been struggling with mental illness. They may not have
opened the doors yet but they can with the right support. I believe that there's
hope, I believe that there's help. And I believe it all starts with the willingness
to talk about what's really going on in people's minds and hearts."
Sagar
Parikh
Psychiatrist
Director, Continuing Medical Education,
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
 Volunteer Roles -- Represents the Centre
at donor educational activities, and special events such as the Courage to Come Back
Awards Dinner. Assists the Foundation in educating donors about mood and anxiety
programs. Advises the Foundation in the development of fundraising proposals.
Why do you support the Foundation, above and beyond your work at the Centre?
-- "I see patients and treat them, but I believe that physicians have a larger
role: to be an agent of change for society. We can achieve that with a broad series
of initiatives such as public education and stigma fighting. The Foundation tries
to take the mission of the Centre beyond the traditional. Working through the Foundation,
we have the freedom to create initiatives that will shape society, fight stigma,
shape policies and ultimately improve the mental health of the citizens of Ontario."
Tell us about the highlights of your involvement -- "Innovation flows
from private money and private vision. Our donors often have the courage to go where
traditional funding agencies will not. Conventional granting institutions tend to
support traditional projects whereas the Foundation funds "out-of-the-box"
initiatives that cross several domains. One highlight has been my involvement with
the Margaret Botterell Bipolar Treatment Optimization Program, which encompasses
both clinical care and education. This project simultaneously looks at several different
issues -- how to reach young people, how to spread the message about bipolar disorder,
how to help expand treatment resources in the community, and how to work well with
someone with bipolar disorder."
Wendy
Pitblado
Mother of three children; Board member of the Pitblado Foundation, and served as
Director of Sports for Mooredale House, has coached hockey for four years, was a
Brownie leader at Rosedale United Church, and was chair of the Annual Giving Program
at Branksome Hall.
 Volunteer Roles -- Board Member since 1999.
Past member of the Special Gifts Division for Centred on Hope. Currently a member
of the Investment Sub-Committee and Co-Chair of the Circle of Hope Committee.
Why do you support the Centre? -- "I do a lot of volunteer work, but
this commitment is very special to me because it reflects my personal interests.
My work with the Centre is the first volunteer commitment that I have undertaken
outside of those related to my children's activities.
"Initially I was inspired by Michael Wilson, a close family friend. When
a tragedy of such proportions befalls someone near and dear to you, it hits home
dramatically. I was profoundly moved by Michael Wilson speaking openly and courageously
about his family's loss, and the stigma that surrounds these illnesses."
Tell us about the highlights of your involvement -- "Meeting other people
involved has been a highlight. I enjoy working with my colleagues on the board and
the Centre staff.
"My background is in the investment business, but for the last few years
I have been at home with my children. Being part of the Investment Sub-Committee
provides me with an enjoyable opportunity to use these skills.
"Overall, I've enjoyed everything, even cold calling! I've found people very
receptive and eager to talk about this issue. I've had some wonderful discussions
and met new people."
Tim Price
Chairman, Trilon Financial Corporation
 Volunteer Roles -- Board Member. Chairs Prospect
Qualification Committee. Chaired Major Gifts Division for Centred on Hope Campaign.
Why do you support the Foundation? -- "Historically I have supported
organizations dedicated to mental health. These illnesses loom fairly large in the
community in general. But because of the stigma that surrounds them, they are things
people don't want to hear about. I felt I should try to help."
Tell us about the highlights of your involvement -- "The Centred on
Hope Campaign was a highlight. It raised awareness, and it was something that people
could really identify with. It made people realize that the funds we raised are essential
for carrying out much-needed programs and research.
"I also enjoyed hearing about how various individual doctors do their research,
what they've learned, and how they've improved treatments for their clients. It's
very rewarding to see how treatments are continually improving over time.
"One of the most gratifying changes I have seen in the last 15-20 years is
the growing realization that mental illness is not a character flaw, but a chemical
imbalance. A greater understanding of these illnesses means that more people are
willing to donate and to help. I hope things will continue to improve."
Sandy
Richards
Research Coordinator for Schizophrenia,
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
 Volunteer Roles -- Host at Courage to Come
Back Awards Dinner for the past four years. Volunteer hosts ensure that award recipients
and their families are guided through the evening, introduced to other celebrities
and recipients, and ensure that everything runs smoothly for them.
Why do you support the Foundation above and beyond your role at the Centre?
-- "Every day, in my role as research coordinator, I ask people to volunteer
to participate in research studies. And every day I am astounded by people's generosity
with their time and themselves. Schizophrenia can affects our ability to think, reason
and perceive; some days just getting out of bed is a remarkable act for someone who
faces these challenges. To volunteer to participate in research above and beyond
life's daily tasks is incredible. For someone who asks others to volunteer so often,
it would be unseemly of me to say no!
"To me, Courage to Come Back celebrates not only individual achievements,
but also recognizes the daily small "courages" of people with persistent
mental illness and addiction."
Tell us about the highlights of your involvement -- "Every recipient and
family I have hosted has told me that Courage to Come Back is one of the most important
moments in their lives. To help make that happen is very special. It's not every
day that you have an opportunity to be part of something like this."
Ted Tremain
President, E.W.H.T. Consulting Ltd.
 Volunteer Roles -- Ted Tremain recently retired
from our board, following 15 years of service. He was a member of the Board of the
former Clarke Institute of Psychiatry for nine years, three as Chair. During the
amalgamation, Mr. Tremain served on the nominating committee for the Centre's new
Board. He served on the Board of The Clarke Foundation for a number of years prior
to the change to the current name; more recently as vice-chair, and Chair of the
Board of the Foundation. The Centred on Hope Campaign Cabinet, along with the Nominations,
Finance, and Courage to Come Back Committees have all benefited from his expertise.
Why do you support the Centre? -- "Initially I was recruited to help
with the Finance committee. I knew little about mental health at the beginning, but
over the years I recognized what an important place the Centre holds for the community
at large, and what an important and necessary role it plays in the lives of people
struggling with mental illness and addiction issues. I developed a huge amount of
respect for the health professionals at the Centre. The number of hours they contribute,
the dedication that I witnessed and the compassion and care they deliver made it
compelling for me to continue."
Tell us about the highlights of your involvement -- "From visiting
with patients early on Christmas morning to seeing the Foundation grow into an organization
that has had a very successful capital campaign and is now in a position to attract
donations on an annual basis has been most satisfying indeed.
"The wonderful volunteers and professional, experienced staff make a huge
difference in what the Foundation can do to support the vitally important work of
the Centre."
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