LFC Toronto Donates To Local Student Mental Health Initiative

As part of our mandate as an Official Liverpool Supporters Club, LFC Toronto's membership focuses on local service organizations, not-for-profits, or charities to support each season.

Through our raffles and other efforts, LFC Toronto raised and donated $1,500 for The Friendship Bench, which will install a permanent suicide prevention/mental health effort in a local Toronto secondary school this year.

LFC Toronto's executives have identified five organizations known for the greatest impact on the community, and that donate all (or the majority) of their received donations to those support efforts.  Below is a summary of each for your reference.

Founded in 1986, Street Health is a frontline service to help Toronto’s homeless. It provides nursing care, mental health counseling, identification (ID) services, and harm reduction and overdose prevention for drug users.

Founded in 1998, Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) works with the Toronto District School Board to provide food and after-school programs for students to succeed in school. According to TFSS, as many as 68% of children go to school hungry every day, and 95% of children and youth do not have access to after-school programs. TFSS runs many of its programs in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (as identified by the City of Toronto) to reach youth who are most in need. The charity runs two programs: Student Nutrition Programs (SNPs) and Beyond 3:30.

Since 2015, The Friendship Bench (TFB) installs its iconic yellow bench and student mental health support in secondary and post-secondary schools across Canada.  The goal of this not-for-profit is simple: decrease the number of suicides and suicide attempts occurring among Canadian students between the ages of 15 and 24 resulting in an average 18% increase in the number of students coming forward to talk about their mental health on campuses where The Friendship Bench is installed.

A Toronto-based charity, Egale Canada is dedicated to improving the lives of 2SLGBTQI people in Canada and enhancing the global response to 2SLGBTQI issues. Egale will achieve this by informing public policy, inspiring cultural change, and promoting human rights and inclusion through research, education, awareness, and legal advocacy.

Founded in 2005, Jumpstart helps kids overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sport and recreation in an effort to provide inclusive play for kids of all abilities. It's about giving kids from families in financial need the same chance to participate as their neighbours, their classmates and their friends. Whether it's the chance to try a new sport or to continue with a favourite one, no kid should be left out.