Heidi Balsillie, Founder of the Fairmount Foundation, Melanie-Anne Atkins, Wellness Coordinator, and Jana Luker, Associate Vice-President (Student Experience) celebrate the Fairmount Foundation’s $1-million donation at the grand opening of Western’s Wellness Education Centre. (Photo courtesy of Paul Mayne)Heidi Balsillie, Founder of the Fairmount Foundation, Melanie-Anne Atkins, Wellness Coordinator, and Jana Luker, Associate Vice-President (Student Experience) celebrate the Fairmount Foundation’s $1-million donation at the grand opening of Western’s Wellness Education Centre. (Photo courtesy of Paul Mayne)
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Western Wellness Centre Gets $1M Donation

A $1-million financial boost to Western University's Wellness Education Centre will help students in need of mental health support.

The sizable donation from the Fairmount Foundation was announced on Monday.

“It is my hope, with this gift, to directly impact the lives of Western’s students in a positive manner. I want all Western students to feel like they are a part of this community, and to feel as though they have had lots of opportunities for personal and academic growth,” says Heidi Balsillie, founder of the Fairmount Foundation.

The Wellness Education Centre opened in the University Community Centre in January and has already assisted more than 500 students. It provides support for students seeking mental health and wellness resources and programming, nutrition information and advice, and sexual violence prevention education and survivors’ support.

The money will go to new health and wellness programming including an annual lecture series. An international learning bursary for low income students to study abroad has also been established by the foundation.

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