MARIA FARELLA GUZZO, Philanthropist, Author, Masters Sc. Psychiatry Candidate, McGill University

Transcription

1 MARIA FARELLA GUZZO, Philanthropist, Author, Masters Sc. Psychiatry Candidate, McGill University Maria F. Guzzo Vice-president of Community Affairs at Cinemas Guzzo, co-founder of the Notte in Bianco fundraising event benefiting child mental health, author of How to Train your Dreams and #smartbites, and a Masters student at McGill University s Faculty of Medicine, in the department of Psychiatry specializing in child/youth mental health. Maria completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa and graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences. She is presently completing a Masters Sc. in Psychiatry, at Montreal s McGill University in the Faculty of Medicine. Her research focuses on expressive writing and school-based mental health programs and intervention Caroline Bergeron Cinemas Guzzo V.P. Community Affairs Montreal, Quebec Maria decided to write a children s book How to Train your Dreams as her interest in child mental health evolved through her philanthropy. Her philanthropic transition from environment cancer research to child mental health research evolved in the last few years. Maria s philanthropic work is 100% hands-on. Her goal is to help raise awareness of youth mental health issues in hopes of reducing the stigma and giving adolescents a fighting chance for a better future. mariaguzzo@cinemasguzzo.com McGill University Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine In 2014, Maria was honoured and received the Woman of Action award by the Israel Cancer Research Fund of the Montreal Jewish General Hospital. As well, she was honoured and received the ItalianMontreal Woman of the Year Award. Both these awards recognize Maria s efforts and contributions in making a difference through her achievements, leadership and dedication in the business, medical and philanthropic communities. maria.farella@mail.mcgill.ca She serves on a number of Boards including La Fondation Mgr Arthur Deschênes, Les Grands Ballets Canadien, and the Institut universitaire en santé mentale foundation.

2 MARIA FARELLA GUZZO Philanthropist Cinemas Guzzo, Community Affairs V.P. Community Affairs Montreal, Quebec Author How to Train Your Dreams #smartbites Montreal, Quebec Academics McGill University Masters Sc. Psychiatry Candidate Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine DEGREES MASTERS SC. PSYCHIATRY CANDIDATE, McGill University, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec BACHELORS SOCIAL SC., University of Ottawa, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario English, French, Italian: written and spoken Proficient in MAXQDA software SKILLS/LANGUAGES CERTIFICATES TRI-COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT, Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans Course on Research Ethics (TCPS 2: Core) BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER L Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Centre Hospitalier de soins psychiatriques ( ) L Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, since 2015 Les Grands Ballets Canadien, since 2014 La Fondation Mgr Arthur Deschênes, since 2013 MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS/BOOK TOURS INVITED SPEAKER INVITED SPEAKER 2002/2003 Speaker at Lauren Hill Academy promoting awareness in mental health October 2016 Commencment speech / presenter at Vincent Massey Collegiate Graduation Ceremony 2

3 BOOK TOUR November 2015 JEWISH PUBIC LIBRARY BOOK TOUR JPPS- Jewish People s & Peretz School UTT- United Talmud Torahs Merton School Solomon Schechter Academy November 2016 SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN, Montreal SEMINARS April Paragraphs Bookstore, Montreal, Qc Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival for Children Leading a seminar for expressive writing techniques for youth MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES President and co-founder of the Notte In Bianco charity event since 2008 (funds raised from 2008-to-date: over $2,000,000.00) benefiting The Guzzo Environment-Cancer Research Chair of the University of Montreal, The Montreal Jewish General Hospital, The Montreal Children s Hospital, The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships,The Montreal s Shriners Hospital and child mental health research Supporter of the Montreal Walk for Mental Health event, September 2017 Bell Let s Talk Campaign: Involvement in Bell s de-stigmatization and awareness campaign for mental health 207/2018 Supporter of Overture with the Arts Program, March 2017 Supporter of Blue Metropolis Montreal International Children s Literacy Program, October 2016 Supporter of the Sing Montréal Chante Program, October 2016 Supporter of a youth fundraising event to promote awareness and destigmatization of mental illness, benefiting the Douglas Mental Health University Institute s Eating Disorder Department, with psychiatrist Dr. Mimi Israel, October Supporter of the Montreal Walk for Mental Health event, September 2016 Involvement in the financing campaign for the Belz Highschool for Girls new library, of the Hassidic Community in Outremont- September 2016 Supporter of the 2nd Annual Mindstrong Charity Fitness, with Dr. Karl Looper, event benefiting the Youth Division of the Department of Psychiatry of the Jewish General Hospital, June Supporter of the Mouvement Santé Mentale Québec Association, May 2016 Supporter of the Jewish General Hospital- ENT department, May 2016 Supporter of the Jewish General Hospital- Centre for Child Development and Mental Health, May

4 Supporter of Laboratoire d Études des Troubles de l Ordre de la Psychopathologie en Enfance de l Université du Québec à Montréal Research Project, 2016 Supporter of Autisme Montérégie, 2016 Supporter of the Montreal Children s Library, 2016 Supporter of l Association québecoise du syndrome de la Tourette, situated at l Hôpital Rivière-des- Prairies, Centre Hospitalier de soins psychiatriques (under 18), 2016 Supporter of the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Foundation, 2016 Supporter of the Buanderie Centrale de Montréal, 2016 Bell Canada Ambassador for 2016/2017 mental health fundraising campaign, 2016 Supporter of a youth fundraising event in high schools in the Greater Montreal Area to promote awareness and destigmatization of mental health, benefiting the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, with Dr. Jai Shah, psychiatrist at the Program for Prevention and Early Intervention in Psychosis, April 2016 Supporter and collaborator of the Shield of Athena s Awareness Campaign, a non-profit organization for victims / women of family violence, March 2016 Jewish General Hospital- supporter of the Cardiology/Emergency Pavillion K fundraising event, March 2016 Member of the Circle of Ambassadors of the Bal des Lumières fundraising event presented by Bell, in support of the Fondation des maladies mentales, l Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal Fondation and the Douglas Hospital for Mental Health University Hospital Foundation, March 2016 Supporter of the Montreal Community Cares Foundation charity event. Honoured at this event while giving awards by recognizing outstanding individuals who have made a difference in the Montreal community, May 2015 The Duke of Edinburgh s Award: Involvement in this organization for the recognition of the success journey of youth self-discovery and development, 2015 Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies: Involvement in de-stigmatization and awareness campaign for child mental health, 2015 Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital (Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal): Involvement in de-stigmatization and awareness campaign for adult mental health, 2015 Bell Let s Talk Campaign: Involvement in Bell s de-stigmatization and awareness campaign for mental health 2015/2016 Supporter and collaborator of the Shield of Athena s Awareness Campaign, a non-profit organization for victims / women of family violence, 2015 Supporter of a youth Fundraising Event in mental health in high schools in the Greater Montreal Area to promote awareness and destigmatization of mental health, benefiting the Douglas Mental Health University Institute with psychologist Dr. Camillo Zachia, April Supporter and donor of Les Grands Ballets Canadien fundraising initiative for the creation of their new mental health based dance therapy clinics in Montreal. 4

5 Supporter of the Giant Steps Foundation annual fundraising event, to celebrate 25 years of generosity towards autistic children, 2015 Supporter of the Autism Speaks Canada annual fundraising event, in collaboration with Toys R Us, 2015 Supporter of Miriam Home for Autistic Children, June 2015 Supporter of the 1 st Annual Mindstrong Charity Fitness event benefiting the Department of Psychiatry of the Jewish General Hospital, June 2015 Supporter and guest speaker of the Perspectives II Inner City School, since May 2015 Douglas Hospital: Involvement in annual awareness campaign for mental health- anorexia/bulimia department, 2014 Assisted in a surgery at the Shriners Hospital with Dr. Thierry Benaroch. The patient was a 4-year old girl, a foster child. Reason: my curiosity in assisting a surgery and wanting to be there for a child with no family post-surgery, October 2014 Honorary Member of The Canadian Philanthropic Children's Circle of Care Program, since 2013 Supporter of the Pedal for Kids in 2004, benefiting the Montreal Children s Hospital, 2004 PUBLICATIONS How to Train your Dreams, a children s book based on mental health, published May 2015 #smartbites, a youth mental health focused cookbook to be released May 2017 SCHOLARSHIPS Recipient of a scholastic grant given by The Canadian Italian Business & Professional Association, 1995 Recipient of a scholastic grant given by The Canadian Italian Business & Professional Association, 1998 Recipient of a scholastic grant given by McGill University for Masters Sc. in Psychiatry, 2015 Recipient of a scholastic grant given by Pandion Investments Ltd., 2015 Recipient of a scholastic grant given by La Fondation Mgr. Arthur Deschênes, 2015 MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH PROJECTS Collaborator in a youth mental health research project in collaboration with McGill University and the Psychiatric Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, involving the Kids Write Network, a 6-step literacy program for children self-publishing children s books, 2015 funded by Bell Canada and Brain Canada. AWARDS/DISTINCTIONS/HONOURS ITALIAN-MONTREAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD given by the Quebec-Canadian Pugliese Federation. Recognizing outstanding individuals who have made a difference through their achievements, leadership and dedication in the business, medical and philanthropic communities, 2015 ISRAEL CANCER RESEARCH FUND HONORARY FELLOWSHIP AWARD given by the Israel Cancer Research Fund,

6 MONTREAL COMMUNITY CARES FOUNDATION, honoured by being recognized as an outstanding individual who has made a difference in the Montreal community, May 2015 WOMAN OF ACTION AWARD given by the Israel Cancer Research Fund. Recognizing outstanding individuals who have made a difference through their achievements, leadership and dedication in the business, medical and philanthropic communities, TH ANNUAL ISRAEL CANCER RESEARCH FUND AWARD, I received an honour for my dedication and commitment to the fight against cancer, June