'See Me, Not My Illness': Schizophrenia Society of Alberta fundraising campaign aims to keep crucial programs alive
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The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA) is making a final push for donations in its annual fundraising campaign to keep crucial programs alive for those in need.
The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA) is making a final push for donations in its annual fundraising campaign to keep crucial programs alive for those in need.
The 2023 See Me, Not My Illness campaign wraps up on Dec. 31 with a fundraising goal of $175,000. It hopes to help those living with schizophrenia find a sense of purpose and normalcy while ending the stigma and discrimination surrounded by the illness.
“It's really important this year to reach that goal because since the pandemic, we've really struggled, we lost some of our key funding, and we have an increased demand,” said Rubyann Rice, SSA provincial executive director.
“Especially with rising inflation too, we really want to keep our vital programs for those not only living with schizophrenia but their loved ones as well. It's really critical this year that we meet that goal.”
The campaign, which allows donors to give online or in person at SSA branches across the province, raised just under $60,000 as of mid-December.
It funds peer-on-peer assistance programs that are in person or can be accessed over the phone along with education and housing programs for those requiring a place to live.
“We have three housing programs, two of which are in Red Deer, and one in Edmonton so we host 55 individuals right now who were at risk or were homeless at one point because of their illness,” said Rice.
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