View source for Jack.org

{{short description|Canadian youth mental health charity}}
{{Update|date=June 2020}}
{{primary sources|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                = Jack.org
| formerly            = The Jack Project @ [[Kids Help Phone]]
| logo                = File:Jack.org logo.png
| logo_alt            = The logo of Jack.org
| formation           = 2010 <ref>[https://www.ontariominds.ca/en/eric-windeler "Eric Windeler"], Ontario Minds. Retrieved on 15 May 2018.</ref>
| founder             = {{plainlist|
* Eric Windeler
* Sandra Hanington
}}
| registration_id     = 848521837 RR0001 <ref name="Jack.org-QuickView">[http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/t3010form22quickview-eng.action?&fpe=2017-06-30&b=848521837RR0001 "Jack.org — Quick View"], Government of Canada. Retrieved on 15 May 2018.</ref>
| status              = [[Charitable organization]],<ref name="Jack.org-QuickView" /> [[nonprofit organization|non-profit organization]]
| leader_name         = Eric Windeler
| leader_title        = [[Executive Director]]
| purpose             = Youth [[mental health]], [[suicide prevention]]
| location            = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
| coords              = {{coord|43.650122|-79.397248|display=inline,title}}
| revenue             = $4,688,752<ref name="Jack.orgFS">{{cite web |title=Financial Statement 2019 |url=https://jack.org/jack/media/images/PDF/Jack-org-Audited-Financial-Statements-2019-1.pdf?ext=.pdf |website=Jack.org |access-date=25 June 2020}}</ref>
| revenue_year        = 2019
| expenses            = $3,941,208<ref name="Jack.orgFS" />
| expenses_year       = 2019
| membership          =
| membership_year     =
| website             = {{URL|https://jack.org}}
| affiliations        = [[Kids Help Phone]]
}}
'''Jack.org''' (formerly known as The Jack Project under the charitable organization [[Kids Help Phone]]) is a Canadian [[nonprofit organization|non-profit organization]] focused on youth [[mental health]] and [[suicide prevention]]. Founded in 2010, the organization has four main programs: Jack Chapters, Jack Talks, Jack Summit, and Jack Ride.<ref>[https://socialinnovation.org/member_auto/jack-org/ "Jack.org"], Centre for Social Innovation. Retrieved on 15 May 2018.</ref>
== History ==
In 2010, Eric Windeler and Sandra Hanington founded "The Jack Project". The project was named after their son, Jack Windeler, who had died by suicide when he was 18 years old.<ref name="YorkRegion-25Mar13">{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/2514652-the-jack-project-talking-about-suicide-prevention/|title= The Jack Project: Talking about suicide prevention|work=York Region|date=25 Mar 2013|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="GlobeAndMail-4Dec15">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/careers-leadership/toronto-familys-tragic-loss-inspires-jackorg-youth-mental-health-charity/article27612465/|title=Toronto family's tragic loss inspires Jack.org youth mental health charity|last=Waldie|first=Paul|date=4 Dec 2015|website=The Globe And Mail|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> In Jack Windeler's parting letter, he asked for his parents to help others.<ref name="QueensJ-1Apr10" /> To honor his wishes, they focused on helping young people struggling with mental health issues.
Initially, the pair collaborated with [[Kids Help Phone]] to create the Jack Windeler Memorial Fund in their late son's honor.<ref name="Whig-9Jun15">{{cite web|url=http://www.thewhig.com/2015/06/09/very-emotional-time-as-windeler-receives-honorary-degree|title=Very emotional' time as Windeler receives honorary degree|work=The Whig|date=9 June 2015|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> The fund raised almost $1 million that was used to expand existing health initiatives.<ref name="Star-3Dec11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2011/12/03/teen_suicide_thinking_back_to_jack.html|title=Teen suicide: Thinking back to Jack|work=The Star|first=Paul|last=Hunter|date=3 Dec 2011|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> They decided to formally launch the Jack Project in April 2010.<ref name="QueensJ-1Apr10">{{cite news|url=https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2010-04-01/news/remembering-jack/ |title=Remembering Jack |work=Queen's Journal |date=April 1, 2010 |first=Gloria |last=Er-Chua |access-date= 15 May 2018}}</ref> By July 2010, Eric Windeler had left his software company to work on the Jack Project full-time.<ref name="Whig-9Jun15" /> In early days, the organization's efforts focused on workshops, outreach programs, and live chat services, which specifically targeted Canadian youth in the age of technology.<ref name="QueensJ-26Jul11">{{cite news |url=https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2011-07-26/jack-project/ |title=The Jack Project |work=Queen's Journal|date=July 26, 2011 |first=Katherine |last=Fernandez-Blance |access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="Star-3Dec11" /> In addition to their initiatives with Kids Help Phone, they started the Jack Ride program in 2010. This program brings individuals of all ages together to ride their bikes and fund-raise for youth mental health.
In 2012, The Jack Project re-branded to Jack.org.<ref name="Whig-9Jun15" />
Today, Jack.org has over 150 active chapters in universities, colleges, and high schools across Canada. The program also maintains more than 80 trained Jack Talks speakers who have delivered 250 talks to date.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Talks|url=https://jack.org/talks|access-date=2020-06-29|website=jack.org|language=en-CA}}</ref> They also host 200 students annually at a national summit in Toronto, which is the largest youth-led mental health conference.<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Jack Summit|url=https://jack.org/Summits/National-Jack-Summit|access-date=2020-06-29|website=jack.org|language=en-CA}}</ref>
In May 2018, Ben Sabic — Chair of Kids Help Phone's National Youth Council — led a partnership with Jack.org and the council,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Sabic - Facebook Page |url=https://www.facebook.com/BenSabic/videos/960048184145389/ |website=Facebook |access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> to support the organization's "We Are Ready campaign".<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Sabic - Twitter Profile |url=https://twitter.com/BenSabic/status/994244762625630209 |website=Twitter |access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> Through posts across Facebook and Twitter, the goal was to generate greater awareness around the campaign.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Sabic - Twitter Profile |url=https://twitter.com/BenSabic/status/994654314386767884 |website=Twitter |access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref>
=== Royal Recognition ===
On October 1, 2016, [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|Prince William]] and [[Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge|Kate Middleton]] accompanied 18 youth mental health advocates from Jack.org on a sailing ride on the [[Sail and Life Training Society#Pacific Grace|Pacific Grace]].<ref name=GlobalNews-2Oct16>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2978145/edmonton-activist-speaks-to-will-and-kate-about-mental-health-in-victoria|title=Edmonton activist speaks to Will and Kate about mental health in Victoria|publisher=Global News|first=Phil|last=Heidenreich|date=2 Oct 2016|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> The Duke and Duchess have made a priority of dispelling the stigma around mental health, as evidence by their campaign, Heads Together. As such, the pair has commended Jack.org on their efforts in the youth mental health space. Prince William has continued to show his support for the organization and made a video appearance at the 2018 Jack Summit.<ref name="RoyalCentral-6Mar18">{{cite web|url=http://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/cambridges/prince-williams-surprise-appearance-at-toronto-mental-health-event-97564|title=Prince William's surprise appearance at Toronto mental health event|publisher=Royal Central|first=Jamie|last=Samhan|date=6 Mar 2018|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref>
=== Be There ===
In 2019, Jack.org launched an online mental health resource for young people in Canada called Be There.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jack.org |title=Jack.org Launches Be There to help young people in Canada learn how to support each other through mental health struggles |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/jack-org-launches-be-there-to-help-young-people-in-canada-learn-how-to-support-each-other-through-mental-health-struggles-874581808.html |website=Cision Newswire |access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> The resource was launched as part of Mental Health Week,<ref>{{cite web |title=Online resource helps young people 'be there' for friends with mental illnesses |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/be-there-jack-dot-org-windsor-1.5124103 |website=CBC News |access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> a nationwide initiative by the [[Canadian Mental Health Association]].<ref>{{cite web |title=CMHA Mental Health Week |url=https://mentalhealthweek.ca/ |website=Canadian Mental Health Association |access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:2010 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Children's charities based in Canada]]
[[Category:Mental health organizations in Canada]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Toronto]]
[[Category:Suicide prevention]]
[[Category:Youth organizations based in Canada]]
== External links ==
*[https://bethere.org/Home/ BeThere.org]