Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health gives $2.8M to further women’s health equity

Grants up to $100K gifted to 41 organizations, supporting community-led initiatives that advance healthcare for women

BRAMPTON, ON, October 21, 2024 /CNW/ - There’s a crisis in women’s health. Shockingly, only 7 per cent of national funding¹ is allocated to women's health research yet 70 per cent of patients with “medically unexplained symptoms² ” are women. This inequity, coupled with a lack of awareness of the issue, is putting women’s lives at risk.

With a mandate to make healthcare more equitable and accessible for women, Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health^TM is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 Community Grants program. Forty-one organizations from across Canada will receive grants of up to $100,000 to continue their important work, improving the state of women’s healthcare in their communities. Over the next 12 months, the $2.8 million program will fund critical work in areas such as women’s mental health, sexual health, gender-based violence, and menstrual equity.

“The health of a community is only as good as the health of the women who live there. By investing in women’s health, we’re also investing in a healthier Canada,” said Paulette Minard, Director, Community Investment at Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health. “Through the Community Grants program, we’re proud to support the important work of these 41 organizations. From local programming, awareness building initiatives and increasing access to care, together we’re working towards a Canada where all women can lead healthier lives.”

Since 2022, the Foundation has supported more than 50 community-led initiatives including The Period Purse through its Community Grants Program. Headquartered in Toronto, The Period Purse is a registered charity dedicated to menstrual equity and distributes both period products and menstrual education programs across the country. With a donation of $100,000 from Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health, The Period Purse will be able to further expand its education programs, reaching new audiences from coast-to-coast.

"Thanks to the generous support of Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health, The Period Purse is able to offer free period education sessions to a greater range of people – including school age kids and newcomers to Canada – across the country who may not otherwise be able to access information about periods, the menstrual cycle, and how to use the full range of period products,” said Vikki VanSickle, Education Coordinator at The Period Purse. “This funding also enables us to develop training specifically for adults working with kids to ensure they have the language, knowledge and confidence to have period-positive conversations and create period-friendly spaces for youth in an open, informed environment that will help combat period stigma."

Recipients of this year’s Community Grants program include:

Alberta:

• The Shaama Centre for Seniors and Women, Mental Health Workshops for Women

• Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society, Peer Support Groups for Women

• Calgary Public Library Foundation, Free.Period.

• Alberta Council of Women's Shelters, Menstrual Equity 2.0: Supporting Women’s Health in Alberta’s Domestic Abuse Shelters

British Columbia:

• Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services, Pathways to Mindful Eating for Young Women

• Surrey Women's Centre Society, Surrey Mobile Response Outreach Van

• South Okanagan Women in Need Society,Women’s Counselling Program

• Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Women Warrior Program

• Chrysalis Drug and Alcohol Abuse Recovery Society, Toiletries for Marginalized Women in Recovery

• Unique Get Together Society, Multicultural Women’s Wellness Program

• BC Society of Transition Houses, BCSTH Period Equity Project

Manitoba:

• Wahbung Abinoonjiiag Inc., Access to Basic Needs Care Kits

Atlantic Canada:

• Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada-Nova Scotia Branch, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program

• First Steps Housing Project, First Steps Residency Program

• The Burin Peninsula Health Care Foundation, Women’s Wellness, Transgender and 50+ Preventative Screening & Education Sessions

Ontario:

• York Region Centre for Community Safety, YRCCS Multi-Service Agency Hub

• Immigrant Women Services Ottawa, Healthy Directions-Women Fleeing Violence

• Sedna Women's Shelter & Support Services Inc., Wellness and Healing Workshops

• YWCA Hamilton, Good Beginnings for Mom & Baby: Increasing Reproductive Health Equity at the Intersection of Pregnancy & Homelessness

• Birth Mark, Social Reproductive Support Program for Under-Housed Women & Gender diverse People

• TNO-The Neighbourhood Organization, Empowering Women’s Health-A Intergenerational Initiative

• Promoting Education & Community Health (PEACH), Mothering Minds: Motherhood & Mental Health Support

• Toronto People with Aids Foundation, Positively Womxn

• Stonehenge Therapeutic Community Inc., Let’s Grow Together

• London Health Sciences Foundation, Shoppers Foundation Women’s Care Cupboard

• Black Health Alliance, From Silence to Strength: Redefining Black Women’s Cancer Journey

• Brant Family & Children's Services Foundation, Community of Support and Hope: Women's Health

• Ray of Hope, Making Period Products More Accessible

• Greater Hamilton Food Share, Menstrual Product Project

• East Toronto Family Community Centre, Her Wellness Hub

• Women's Shelter, Second Stage Housing & Counselling Service of Huron, The Period Poverty Taskforce Initiative

• Northhumberland United Way, Period Promise Northumberland

• The Period Purse, Menstruation Nation – Education Program

Quebec:

• Maison le paravent, Pour qu’aucune femme ne soit oubliée

• Fondation La rue des Femmes/Herstreet Foundation, La rue des Femmes, guérir l’itinérance

• Fondation OLO, Le pouvoir d’agir des mamans en situation de vulnérabilité par l’accès à l’information, des outils adaptés et des aliments sains

• S.O.S. Grossesse, Centre de Santé des Femmes de la Capitale-Nationale

• Fondation du Centre Hospitalier de l'universite de Montreal, Cardio F

• L'institut de l'innovation / Innovation Institute, Hygiene Basket Initiative

National:

• YWCA Canada, When Abuse Doesn’t Bruise – Community Action to Improve Women’s Health

• Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, The Equitable Access to Care Initiative

Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health is a registered charity. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: https://shoppersfoundation.ca/en/our-impact/.

For media inquiries: pr@lobaw.ca

About Shoppers Drug Mart Inc.

Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart^® (Pharmaprix^® in Québec). With more than 1,300 Shoppers Drug Mart^® and Pharmaprix^® stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The company also licenses or owns 70 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy^® (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé^® in Québec). As well, the company owns and operates 43 corporate Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart^TM stores and an ecommerce site Wellwise.ca, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities and Lifemark Health Group, Canada’s leading provider of outpatient physiotherapy, massage therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, mental health, and other ancillary rehabilitation services. Shoppers Drug Mart is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.

About Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health

Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health – the charitable arm of Shoppers Drug Mart^® – is committed to helping Canadian women lead healthier lives, by making care more equitable and accessible. The Foundation will invest $50M by 2026 to address some of the most pressing health inequities facing women, including lack of representation in health research, barriers to accessing mental healthcare, and the urgent consequences women disproportionately face due to poverty and domestic violence. Learn more at shoppersfoundation.ca.

¹ Partnership for Women's Health Research. (2022). What is women's health research and why is it important? https://pwhr.org/what-is/ Accessed March 2023.

² Dusenbury, M. (2017) Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick. Harper One And references therein – excerpt available at: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180523-how-gender-biasaffects-your-healthcare?ocid=global_future_rss Accessed September 2020.