NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA AND DISTRICT ARTS COUNCIL/TELUS FRIENDLY FUTURE FOUNDATION
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The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has donated $10,000 to contribute towards the Orillia and District Arts Council’s (ODAC) effort in supporting vulnerable populations with a new program.
Discovering the Artist Within: Expressive Arts for Mental Health will provide virtual activities for participating women and their children in response to COVID-19.
Lynn Fisher, board chair with the Orillia and District Arts Council, comments, “ODAC is privileged to partner with the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation to deliver this new six-week arts program.
The focus is the use of art’s expressive modalities, such as journalling, sculpting, painting, to name a few. Creating art can help ease depression, anxiety, PTSD and nurture a sense of well-being that enables a person to learn techniques and coping mechanisms that lead to personal management of negative episodes.”
The grant will also fund dedicated mental health supports, through a professional therapist, in collaboration with the Colborne Street Clinic in Orillia.
“During this unprecedented public health emergency, we are especially focused on supporting our communities and enabling urgent funding where it is needed most,” said Shanan Spencer-Brown, executive director of the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation.
“Supporting the Orillia and District Arts Council is one way we are helping organizations across Canada in the fight against COVID-19. The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation commends the Orillia and District Arts Council for a nimble pivot to assist vulnerable women in their community.”
For more information about the program and the $10,000 grant, please visit orilliaartscouncil.ca, and for more information on the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, visit friendlyfuture.com.
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