$17+ Million
total raised
2020
year joined
$4.2+ Million
raised in 2022
131000
teammates supporting the cause
Family of Support is a ground-breaking initiative. We are funding early intervention mental health programs to help kids while they’re still kids, giving them the best possible chance to thrive. When Empire Company Limited launched the Family of Support Initiative with Canada’s Children’s Hospitals Foundations (CCHF) in January 2020, it was clear child and youth mental health was an area needing urgent investment. Demand was growing, and health systems were struggling to keep pace. This need grew even more urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be an area of great concern. Each year, funds are raised through both in-store campaigns and direct donations from Empire Company Limited and the Sobey Foundation.
In 2023, an estimated 1.6 million young people in Canada had a mental health disorder (Source). According to the most recent Children’s Healthcare Canada Report, expanding access to effective treatments is recommended to help combat the prevalence of mental health issues amongst children and youth. That is why The Sobey Foundation and Empire Company Limited continue to invest millions of dollars to fund local mental health programs through the Family of Support: Child and Youth Mental Health Initiative.
Each year, funds are raised through both in-store campaigns and direct donations from Empire Company Limited and the Sobey Foundation. Donations made in-store stay local and are directed towards each hospital’s most urgent training and care needs. Direct donations go to a specific, local and evidence-based program selected by each hospital to support the mental health of children and youth. Read our most recent impact report by clicking the button below!
Family of Support: Child & Youth Mental Health Initiative is helping 13 children’s hospitals adapt and innovate at a time when more young people than ever are seeking mental health care. Family of Support’s innovative national partnership is investing millions to improve early interventions of mental health support. Together, we are getting kids the mental health support they need, when they need it.
To learn more about the Family of Support initiative, its programs and its connection to our member foundations, visit the website here: familyofsupport.com/hospital-foundations
Ready to take action?
Empire Company Limited
Empire Company Limited is a Canadian company headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia.
Empire’s food retailing segment is carried out through Sobeys Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary. Together they are proudly Canadian companies with more than 115 years of experience in food-retailing and other business ventures.
With a brand motto of being “a family nurturing families,” the companies are in the business of supporting Canadian communities. They do this by providing exceptional shopping and food experiences.
To learn more, visit: www.empireco.ca
The Sobey Foundation
The Sobey Foundation was founded in 1982 by Frank H. Sobey and his three sons; Bill, David and Donald. The Foundation’s giving is rooted in the Sobey family’s continued commitment to improving the lives of individuals through investments in health, education and community.