Putting smiles on the faces of youth when they are most needed
Smilezone Foundation revitalizes spaces for youth at Turning Point Youth Services
February 2nd, 2024 TORONTO – Turning Point Youth Services’ clients have been given a new reason to smile. On Friday February 2nd, Turning Point Youth Services officially opened new Smilezones in the front entrance, youth activity room, and counseling rooms. Generously donated by Smilezone Foundation, with support from the Fine Wolff Mayer Foundation and CIBC Mellon, the bright, youth-friendly Smilezone includes murals, musical equipment, gaming technology, fresh paint, comfortable seating and more, to help improve the experience for youth and families when they visit the centre.
“With the return to in-person counselling and other services in the last couple years, the Smilezones come at a perfect time, ensuring Toronto youth and families have a warm and welcoming experience at their visit to our offices and activity room. We are incredibly grateful to Smilezone, the Fine Wolff Mayer Foundation and CIBC Mellon for such a meaningful gift,” said Chris Bouchard, Executive Director of Turning Point Youth Services. “Our staff are passionate about delivering exceptional client care and these upgrades will inspire and modernize the environment in which they care for youth.”
TPYS has for decades provides much-needed mental health services to youth in Toronto and is going strong at a time when youth mental health needs are at their highest. With a brief thank you presentation and ribbon cutting ceremony, guests including staff and youth were able to tour the new Smilezone spaces to see firsthand the big changes.
“The renovations look stunning! Thank you to Smilezone Foundation, Fine Wolff Mayer Foundation and CIBC Mellon for their generous donation of this amazing work. From the Lobby, to the Drop-in Space, to the Counselling Rooms; everything is so much brighter, more welcoming and lively now. It is so nice to know that people care about our youth and these renovations help them envision a brighter tomorrow.” – Rebecca Wilks, Community Support Worker
“Smilezone Foundation is truly thrilled to be a part of this exciting renovation at Turning Point Youth Services,” said Brian Richardson, Chair of the Smilezone Foundation Board of Directors. “We are delighted with the newly revitalized spaces, giving youth a reason to smile during their visits to Turning Point. On behalf of the Board, thank you to the Fine Wolff Mayer Foundation and CIBC Mellon, both whom we are gratefully recognizing today for their ongoing support.”
“We are so grateful to have Turning Point Youth Services in our vibrant downtown community, supporting our youth through challenging experiences. We wish there were more organizations like Turning Point. It’s been an honour and joy for our family to work with Smilezone and Turning Point to refresh several spaces for their youth clients. A huge thanks to the passionate and energetic teams at Turning Point and Smilezone for imagining, designing and delivering this project. We would also like to thank the Community and Social Responsibility Committee of CIBC Mellon for collaborating with us and continuing to invest in our community.” – Steve and Rosalie Wolff, on behalf of the Fine Wolff Mayer Foundation
“We are thankful for the opportunity to support the Smilezone Foundation to transform the space at Turning Point Youth Services. This collaboration reflects our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of young individuals, fostering hope, and creating a positive impact on their journey to brighter tomorrows.” – Muna Al-Joulani, Vice President, Human Resources and Chair of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, CIBC Mellon
“Our Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Turning Point Youth Services on these new Smilezones, with the goal of bringing smiles to youth as they access important mental health supports in their community. We would like to thank the Fine Wolff Mayer Foundation and CIBC Mellon for making these newly renovated spaces possible – their commitment to this project from start-to-finish has been outstanding.” – Scott Bachly, Smilezone Foundation Co-Founder and Co-Chair.
ABOUT SMILEZONE FOUNDATION:
Smilezone Foundation is a registered charity based in Oakville, ON, committed to putting smiles on children and youths’ faces. Founded by Scott Bachly and Adam Graves in 2012, the Foundation’s mission is to make tough days a little brighter for children receiving treatment in hospitals and community health centres. We do this by renovating existing rooms into fun and engaging “Smilezones” that harness the uplifting power of a smile for the children, youth, and families accessing treatment and services. Please visit www.smilezone.com for more information about the 375+ Smilezones across Canada.
ABOUT TURNING POINT YOUTH SERVICES: TPYS is an accredited, non-profit multi-service agency serving youth ages 12 to 24 and their families. We provide services in three areas: mental health, housing, and youth justice supports and are generously supported by two provincial Ministries and the City of Toronto. Our vision is “Healthy Minds, Healthy Futures” and our mission is to empower youth to make positive change in their lives.
For information on ways to support community mental health care and to see photos of the new Smilezones, visit www.turningpoint.ca and www.smilezone.com.
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