End To End To Support Family-Oriented Charities
The Catlin End-to-End has selected four family-oriented charities to receive support from the 2015 event, which include Bermuda’s largest food bank; family counselling; a student mentoring programme; and Bermuda’s only hospice.
“Each year, our amazing 2,500-plus participants raise funds for worthy causes in Bermuda,” said Anne Mello, Chair of the End-to-End. “This year, the pledges they secure will focus on one area: supporting Bermuda’s families.”
“Resilient families are the foundation of a strong, healthy community – but more and more of our Bermuda families are struggling with enormous challenges,” added Mrs. Mello.
“Our selection process included interviews with the leaders of our short-listed charities, and it opened our eyes to the difficulties many people face, as our economic downturn is in its sixth year.”
“It showed us that there are individuals and families who cannot afford to eat every day. The stress of unemployment is creating problems within families, who need somewhere to turn for counselling. Many children are finding themselves needing extra attention at school in order to cope, as they deal with home lives that may be less stable.
“And people facing serious illnesses and their caregivers are not able to find the respite they need.”
“Our new focus allows us to donate some $60,000 to each charity, which will make a significant impact on their programmes,” adds Mrs. Mello. “It also allows us to make a closer tie to the charities which receive our participants’ funds, and to ensure the support we give is used appropriately.”
“As the End-to-End’s funding focus in 2015 is on the Bermuda family, all proceeds will support programmes and/or operating expenses to support and strengthen this area.”
Applications were invited to address one of the following areas:
- Seniors – Basic needs [food, shelter, clothing] and support services
- Youth – Enrichment opportunities to help overcome negative social issues
- Families – Support services for physical and emotional trauma
Submissions were only considered from charities registered in Bermuda, which are not affiliated with any religious or other sectarian group, and serve the local community. They also were required to provide complete financial statements.
The charities supported by the Catlin End-to-End’s 2015 fundraisers are:
The Eliza Doolittle Society: Bermuda’s largest food bank, providing free food to nearly all the feeding programmes on the Island, including the Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, Coalition for the Protection of Children, and some families on Government assistance. It also directly provides food to 300 individuals or families and operates a twice-weekly free lunch service in Hamilton. TEDS has distributed 200,000 pounds of food in Bermuda this year.
Family Centre: A 25-year-old charity offering intensive counselling services, including screening, child and family counselling, school-based counselling, and community and home counselling. Programmes serve children suffering from abuse, neglect or other emotional challenges, and high-risk families. The Family Centre delivered 900 direct services to children and families in 2013.
Friends of Hospice: Bermuda’s only hospice, which provides both end-of-life care and palliative care for inpatients and operates a day hospice. It also operates a companion programme for people who otherwise would not have visitors, and a bereavement programme to help families cope with loss – before and after their loved one dies.
Youthnet: An island-wide programme, which matches volunteer mentors with 800 public school students each year, giving “at risk” students extra attention and support in both academics and social interactions. Around half the students are in the Youthnet reading programme, High school students can be linked with peer mentors from other schools.
The Catlin End-to-End event is organised by the Bermuda End-to-End Charitable Trust’s Board, and is supported by numerous local sponsors and individual event participants.
