CHARITY FINALISTS
September 29th, 2025
Presenting our three finalists drawn at random and vetted:
Head & Hands
Myra's Kids
Au Contraire Film Festival ( Paradis Urbain)
Please scroll down to learn more about each of the finalists.
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Head & Hands strives to promote the physical and mental well-being of youth. Their approach is preventative, inclusive, non-judgmental, and holistic, with a fundamental commitment to providing a supportive environment for youth experiencing marginalization. In the context of our Youth Mental Health theme, the donation will be used to support of their counselling services.
Counselling is available to youth 12-25 years old and families with youth in that age bracket. They offer short- to medium-term counselling that is informed by healing justice, anti-oppression, trauma-sensitivity, and harm reduction. Counsellors may also provide referrals for other relevant services where necessary. Their services prioritize youth experiencing marginalization, specifically: Black youth, Indigenous youth, and youth of colour; queer, trans, and/or non-binary youth; recent immigrants and/or youth without status; youth experiencing financial, housing, and/or employment precarity; youth engaged in sex work. Specifically, they give priority to youth who have limited social support, financial resources, and who cannot readily access private and public (i.e., RAMQ) forms of health insurance.
Established in 1975
Annual revenue: $1,398,708
Myra's Kids gives children a safe place to honour and understand their grief. When a child loses a loved one, their world changes forever. At Myra’s Kids, they provide a safe, supportive space for grieving children and teens to heal, connect, and grow and discover that there can be hope after a significant death.
They provide year-round support to children and their extended family by funding, initiating, and organizing programs aimed at supporting children dealing with grief.
Every summer, they host a Summer Camp, where bereaved children can honour the memory of a special person who has died.
Their free, year-round programs include:
• Summer Camp - A transformative weekend of connection and remembrance
• Family Camp - A retreat for healing together
• Support Groups - Monthly sessions led by grief professionals
They help children honour their loved ones, understand their grief, and discover they are not alone.
Established in 2019
Annual revenue: $507,998
The Au Contraire Film Festival is an initiative of Paradis Urbain, a Canadian registered charity whose greater mission is assisting individuals, who, due to their mental illness, are having difficulty moving forward and recovering their lives.
Recognizing the power of creative expression as a catalyst that inspires Montreal citizens to take action, Paradis Urbain, through the Au Contraire Film Festival, strives to dispel stereotypes and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
In the context of our Youth Mental Health theme, donations would support their educational institution film screenings and dialogue sessions. They create an immersive experience for young people, allowing them to understand real-life scenarios and promote empathy, understanding, and compassion towards those with lived experience of mental health challenges.
Paradis Urbain, established UP House to help adults living with mental illness rebuild their confidence, purpose, and community. The UP House serves more than 300 active members each year and is in its 13th year of operation. The net proceeds of the Au Contraire Film Festival support the operation of UP House.
Established in 2008
Annual revenue: $508,211