Mrs. Line Ritchie and Mr. Guy Brossard have always been very generous by nature, and for them, there are many different ways to contribute to causes close to their hearts.
The couple has long been committed to supporting children’s well-being, whether as volunteers, donors, or by raising funds on the occasion of their birthdays or wedding. Every opportunity is a good one!
In fact, for the past few years, they have stopped asking for birthday gifts. Instead, they invite friends and family to make donations to foundations that are important to them. After organizing their first fundraiser of this kind a few years ago, some of their loved ones followed their example and also chose to request donations in lieu of birthday gifts.
When Mrs. Ritchie and Mr. Brossard decided to get married this year, they chose to turn their joyful celebration into another opportunity to support children.
“We are fortunate enough to have all that we need. Inviting our loved ones to donate to a cause that supports children rather than giving us gifts is our way of helping those who need it most,” says Mrs. Ritchie. “When you have the means and want to support a cause, there’s no reason not to ask for donations as a gift for a special occasion. It’s the most beautiful gift of all,” adds Mr. Brossard.
A Fundraiser for Children’s Mental Health
Mrs. Ritchie’s brother has children and grandchildren living with mental health challenges. She also has an aunt who worked for about twenty years in child psychiatry. Through them, she has seen how difficult life can be for children diagnosed with autism, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions, as well as for their parents and families—especially when they lack access to outside support.
Mr. Brossard and Mrs. Ritchie therefore chose to use their wedding as an opportunity to raise funds for the Child Psychiatry Fund les petits trésors. This fund aims to improve care at the Rivière-des-Prairies Mental Health Hospital and to finance research and teaching projects in order to better meet the growing needs of children and adolescents.
They knew that any donations they raised would be far more meaningful than traditional wedding gifts. The fundraiser was very easy to set up, and its impact was significant.
In the invitations they sent out, Mr. Brossard and Mrs. Ritchie encouraged guests to make a donation to the les petits trésors Child Psychiatry Fund. They also included the contact information for our Foundation on their wedding website. To ensure that donations were recorded in honor of their wedding, donors simply had to mention it in a note.
Guests thought it was a wonderful idea and participated in large numbers. The couple’s goal was to raise $25,000. Thanks to the generosity of their guests, they exceeded that target and raised a total of $31,729 in support of young people living with mental health challenges. It was a tremendous success and they are very proud of the outcome.
The Foundation team sincerely thanks Mrs. Line Ritchie and Mr. Guy Brossard for this wonderful initiative in support of children living with mental health disorders who receive care at the Rivière-des-Prairies Mental Health Hospital.