Update (3:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 16): The fundraiser is now up to $25,000.
Quinte Broadcasting Company is celebrating the life of local philanthropist, businessman and mental health advocate Maurice Rollins on Wednesday.
Rollins passed away June 3 at the age of 94.
He was not only well known for his business initiatives, which include a construction company, hotel chains and more, but also for his openness about his struggles with mental health.
To celebrate the life of Maurice Rollins and everything he did for mental health, Quinte Broadcasting stations, MIX97, ROCK 107 and 800AM CJBQ will run special programming all day to bring awareness to mental health supports.
The special programming is happening alongside a fundraising drive for the Enrichment Centre for Mental Health, which offers a variety of mental health-based services to people in the Quinte region.
Enrichment Centre Executive Director Sandie Sidsworth told Quinte News about some of the services offered at the Enrichment Centre.
“It can be transitional housing, of course, homelessness, we’re well known for that. Counselling, trauma counselling, suicide bereavement counselling, employment programs trying to return people back to work, we have our supported employment program and we have our inspired futures program which is a six-week training. We also do support groups.”
She explained that it’s been a busy year so far at the enrichment centre with many people seeking services.
When asked about the programming and fundraising drive, she said that Rollins would have loved the concept.
“Maurice would just love this. He was such an advocate in such a way that – no BS, right? He was so open and honest about his own battle especially in his book. I think this is such a great way for him to be acknowledged by the community.”
Listeners will be asked to call the Enrichment Centre at 613-969-8874 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday to make a donation.
The Rollins family has pledged to match donations from the public up to a maximum of $50,000.
More about the life and times of Maurice Rollins can be found here.
