In Response to COVID-19, the 19th Annual Walk
So Kids Can Talk Transforms into a New Virtual
Fundraiser
TORONTO, May 28, 2020 /CNW/ - Kids Help Phone's
annual Walk so Kids Can Talk presented by BMO is back for another
year, this time with a twist. The new virtual Never Dance
Alone-a-thon powered by BMO will take place across Canada this Sunday, May
31st, to encourage fundraising and spread
awareness about the importance of supporting young people through
an especially distressing and uncertain time.
Since early March, Kids Help Phone has experienced a record
surge in demand from youth experiencing stress and anxiety as a
result of COVID-19. Increased isolation, school cancellation and
social distancing are just a few of the reasons youth are reaching
out, with call volumes increasing by more than 50 per cent. This
year, more than ever, Kids Help Phone needs kids, adults, community
organizations and corporations to come together to connect and
demonstrate that no young person should ever feel alone – now, or
ever.
BMO has been a sponsor of Kids Help Phone's Walk so Kids Can
Talk for almost a decade, last year, more than 9,000 walkers
raised over $1.9 million for Kids
Help Phone.
"While we can't physically walk together this year, as we've
done since 2012, BMO – as presenting sponsor and long-time
steadfast partner – is adapting to these challenging times in a
new, virtual way with the first-ever Kids Help Phone Never Dance
Alone-a-thon," said Dan Barclay, Chief Executive Officer &
Group Head, BMO Capital Markets and National Walk Co-Champion.
"Right now, young people in Canada
are even more in need of access to Kids Help Phone's crucial
counselling and support services. Every child deserves to be heard
and helping those in need is at the core of how BMO lives our
Purpose to Boldly Grow the Good."
On May 31, BMO is inviting
everyone across Canada to dance in
support of Kids Help Phone to ensure young people everywhere never
feel alone and have a safe place to turn when they need help. Once
participants' dances are filmed, they can upload them on Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat or TikTok, using the hashtag
#neverdancealone and tagging @KidsHelpPhone.
Kids Help Phone provides 24/7 free, confidential, counselling
and support services to over 1,500 young people every day. From
trouble at home, to sadness, grief, identity, stigma, violence and
abuse, kids can call a counsellor or text a trained-volunteer
Crisis Responder for guidance, any time.
"Thank you to BMO for being by our side for over 30 years. Your
support allows the young people of Canada to access support – especially now
during these uncertain times," said Katherine Hay, President and CEO, Kids Help
Phone. "By pivoting from walking to dancing, we are spreading much
needed joy. Together, we are mobilizing hope as funds raised are
critical to allowing us to be there for young people
24/7."
Important facts about Kids Help Phone since COVID-19:
- Call volumes have sustained a new normal after two months of a
sustained high volume since spike in mid-March
- Overall service increase since COVID-19:
-
- Up 63 per cent by text, and 55 per cent by phone
- Further increase in demand after tragic events in Nova Scotia
- Eating and body image continue to dominate conversations up 67
per cent since COVID-19.
-
- Predominately in Ontario and
Toronto (+47 per cent since
COVID-19)
- Quebec is experiencing
relatively high reports of isolation
-
- Montreal specifically
reporting more than 68 per cent of conversations focused on
isolation since start of COVID-19
- Texting conversations about COVID-19 at 30 per cent
- 91 per cent quality score for professional counselling in
April
Key Achievements of Kids Help Phone:
- Because of fundraising efforts and its partnership with BMO,
Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone launched a pilot in
February 2018; by November it was
available nationally in English and French.
- In 2019, Kids Help Phone reached 1.9 million young people.
- Created the first support service in Canada to answer texts by severity versus
chronology, ensuring youth-at-risk receive priority
assistance.
"When COVID-19 made it clear we couldn't meet in person, we knew
we had to find another way to continue to bring our employees and
community together to fundraise for this important cause. The pivot
to the dance-a-thon gives people a creative, fun way to virtually
show their support for Kids Help Phone," said Karen Collins, Chief Talent Officer, BMO
Financial Group and national co-host along side Dan Barclay. "Dust off your dancing shoes and
join us, we'll see you on the virtual dance-floor on May 31st!"
Every dance helps. Register for the Never Dance Alone-a-thon
powered by BMO and join us this Sunday,
May 31st from 3-4 p.m.
ET, where AIR MILES and Jessi
Cruickshank will be hosting a Facebook Live event in support
of Kids Help Phone, with musical performances by Walk Off The
Earth, Blanco Brown and a special
appearance by Kids Help Phone Ambassador and BMO employee,
Matthew Ravida.
About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for
200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial
services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North
America. With total assets of $987 billion as
of April 30, 2020, and a team of diverse and highly engaged
employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial
banking, wealth management and investment banking products and
services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business
through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking,
BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.
About Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24/7 e-mental health service
offering free, confidential support in English and French to young
people. As the country's virtual care expert, we give millions of
youth a safe, trusted space to talk over phone and online chat or
through text message with Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help
Phone in any moment of crisis or need. Through our digital
transformation, we envision a future where every person in
Canada is able to get the support
they need, when they need it most and we have most recently
realized that through Crisis Text Line Canada. This innovation is
fueled by courageous donors, partners, volunteers and more. Learn
more at KidsHelpPhone.ca or @KidsHelpPhone.
Internet: www.bmo.com Twitter:
@BMOMedia
SOURCE BMO Financial Group