The positive impact of corporate philanthropy on the lives of young people experiencing mental ill-health was highlighted recently when Orygen welcomed representatives from Cooper Investors Pty Limited.
A team from the specialist equities fund manager was hosted at an event in Parkville which featured presentations by Orygen’s world leading youth mental health researchers and a tour of Orygen’s state of the art youth mental health facility.
In 2018, Cooper Investors nominated Orygen as a beneficiary of Hearts & Minds Investments, an Australian-listed investment company that provides a concentrated portfolio from leading fund managers, including Coopers, while supporting Australian medical research organisations.
Professor Patrick McGorry, executive director of Orygen, said he was delighted to welcome Cooper Investors to Orygen.
“By naming Orygen a beneficiary of Hearts & Minds Investments, Cooper Investors has shown how powerful the outcomes can be when corporate philanthropy and charities work hand in hand.
“The generosity of this funding has allowed Orygen to put youth mental health on the global agenda through our partnership with the World Economic Forum. It has also supported the trial of an innovative clinical service for young people with bipolar disorder that blends evidence based clinical, digital and peer interventions.”
Natalie Elliott, Head of Private Capital and Philanthropy for Cooper Investors, said philanthropy was a core value of the company.
“We believe that we can and should, wherever possible, assist organisations such as Orygen to implement vital research and clinical care programs that improve the quality of life for many Australians at a time of great uncertainty.
“We have partnered with Orygen because Professor McGorry and his team have a proven track record of working with the private sector, government and young people to redefine what is possible in global youth mental health research, policy, education and clinical care.”
Professor McGorry said Cooper Investors has recognised mental health as the health challenge of a generation.
“It is heartening to see Cooper Investors wanting to use their funding to support world class research and programs to better the mental health of communities across Australia.
“Private funding through Hearts & Minds is vital if we are to fundamentally change the life course of young people experiencing mental health issues.
“All young people deserve a road to recovery, an opportunity to the live the life they want and to have full social and economic participation in our community,” Professor McGorry said.