Cambridge, ON | August 31, 2021 – Cowan Insurance Group, a leading Canadian insurance brokerage and consulting firm, announced today that Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) has been selected as the organization’s 2021 Charity of Choice.
“The past year has continued to be challenging for so many people, as the impact of the pandemic and repeated lockdowns affected our home and work lives. We understand how it has forced people to adjust their priorities and goals as we strive to find our way in this unusual environment. While we are all in this together, some of the most profoundly affected individuals in our communities have been those already in need of support, like at-risk youth,” said Cowan Insurance Group President Janet Peddigrew. “Now more than ever, children’s mental health matters, and we’re proud to support an organization like CMHO.”
CMHO supports 150,000 children and their families annually, connecting them to organizations providing needed services, including mental health support, which has become more crucial than ever as younger generations struggle to deal with the pandemic.
As part of their longstanding corporate commitment to community support, Cowan Insurance Group has announced the launch of their 2021 philanthropic campaign—Cowan CHMO Summer. Each year, funds raised at summer charity events are donated to a charity of choice. Since 2002, Cowan has hosted annual events raising over $1.5 million for local charities and organizations.
Last year, Cowan made the difficult decision to cancel their annual Charity Classic due to the pandemic. This year, the company’s top priority continues to be the well-being of its clients, employees, and communities. In place of the annual Cowan Charity Classic, from June to September, Cowan is hosting a series of micro-events uniting employees, clients, industry partners, and the community to support an important common cause. The Cowan CMHO Summer campaign includes Cowan Golf Day, a safe and socially distant golf tournament on September 15, at Glen Abbey Golf Course, in Oakville, ON.
“The events of the last 18 months have had a massive impact on the mental health of children and youth and their families,” said Mary D’Alton, Executive Director, The Cowan Foundation. “The Cowan Foundation is honoured to continue our support of CMHO and the exceptional work they do to provide the mental health supports that children and their families need. Their work aligns so closely with our values as a Foundation and the wishes of our clients and staff.”
Along with support from sponsors, business partners, employees, and participants, funds raised from portions of this year’s campaign will be matched by The Cowan Foundation.
“We are so thankful for the ongoing leadership The Cowan Foundation has shown by making kids’ mental health a priority and empowering CMHO to reach more families and kids,” said Kimberly Moran, CEO, CMHO. “At a time when the mental health of children, youth and families has never been more important, this funding will make a significant difference in our work to promote a coordinated and high performing system of care that puts children, youth, and families first.”
Cowan Insurance Group is a prominent independent Canadian insurance brokerage and consulting operation providing insurance and risk management to businesses, organizations and individuals. Partnering with national and international insurance companies, we advise and create retirement, group benefits, disability management and international benefits programs for employee groups, and offer wealth and asset management and financial and succession planning services to individuals. cowangroup.ca.
The Cowan Foundation was started in 1995 in honour of our founder, Frank Cowan, and is sustained by the ongoing success of the Princeton Holdings group of companies. The goal of The Cowan Foundation is to make a positive difference in the lives of Canadians and the broader well-being of our communities. For more information, please visit www.cowanfoundation.ca.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) is the association representing Ontario’s public providers of infant, child and youth mental health services. Their nearly 100 member organizations operate in every region of the province, providing treatment and support to over 140,000 kids and families annually. With the combined strength of members, partners, youth and families, their primary goal is to promote a coordinated and high-performing system of care that puts children, youth, and families first so that young people get the mental health supports they need to thrive.
For more information, contact:
Joanna Swan
Manager, Communications
Cowan Insurance Group
Tel: 226-808-4155
joanna.swan@cowangroup.ca