STATE COLLEGE — Jana Marie Foundation recently received $45,000 from The Giant Company’s Make a Difference Challenge to fund a mobile wellness room that will education about mental health, provide a calming space and work to build community connections.
Mental health impacts the way in which we live, laugh, love and play. It is crucial to find innovative ways to reach youth and to help them learn coping skills and techniques to build resiliency. The most recent Pennsylvania Youth Survey demonstrates that one in six young people in grades 6-12 have seriously considered suicide; one in eight have a plan for suicide; and one in 10 have attempted suicide. In order to continue to break down barriers for seeking help, it’s imperative to ignite conversations that highlight the importance of mental, emotional and social well-being and foster understanding, acceptance and community action.
“Our goal is to use funding received from the Make a Difference Challenge to create a mobile Wellness Room on Wheels. This welcoming Sprinter van will be equipped with healthy, shelf-stable snacks, hands-on craft activities and mental health resource materials geared toward young people,” says Marisa Vicere, president and founder of Jana Marie Foundation. “Ultimately, we want to increase awareness about mental health warning signs and the resources available to individuals in rural areas of Pennsylvania.”
“For the past 100 years, The Giant Company’s community partners have played a critical role in making a difference in local communities, and we strongly believe these partners will continue to create stronger, healthier communities for generations to come,” said Jessica Groves, manager, community impact, The Giant Company. “We are so excited to celebrate these organizations through the Make a Difference Challenge. To support their projects is truly an honor, and we cannot wait to see the positive impact these dollars will have as their dream to help communities becomes a reality.”
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, on Oct. 4, The Giant Company awarded a total of $500,000 to 20 local nonprofits in areas where the company operates as part of its Make a Difference Challenge. The challenge was designed to honor The Giant Company’s legacy of giving back by supporting nonprofit organizations whose work has a direct impact on creating a future that promotes healthier people and a healthier planet. For additional information and details, visit go.giantfoodstores.com/make-a-difference-challenge.
Jana Marie Foundation harnesses the power of creative expression and dialogue to spark conversations, build connections and promote mental well-being among young people and their communities. To learn more about the organization or to support its mission, visit janamariefoundation.org.
