CREDIT: JEN DOEDE
Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), a London-based organization dedicated to supporting youth in reaching their full potential, received its largest monetary donation ever. The donation, came from the Smith Family of EllisDon Construction, in honour of their late mother Joan Smith.

On Oct. 24, Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) received its largest monetary donation in the organization’s history from the Smith family of EllisDon Construction. The gift of $1 million will go towards building a new centre in downtown London that will support young mothers, their children and other young members of the London community.   

YOU is a 35-year-old London-based organization that strives to assist youth in building their skills and confidence so they are able to reach their full potential. According to the organization’s website, YOU serves approximately 3,600 youth between the ages of 16 and 30 each year, from the London and Strathroy areas.

“YOU will be creating within this space, along with our partners, something called the Youth Wellness Hub. There will be six floors in the building and two will be dedicated to all the support services for the youth that will live in this building as well as other young people in our community,” Steve Cordes, chief executive officer for YOU said at the event.

According to the Oct. 24 YOU news release regarding the record breaking donation, the new building will offer support services for those dealing with issues pertaining to mental health, obtaining employment, education and more.

CREDIT: JEN DOEDE

“We had focus groups with young moms before we embarked on this project to make sure we build [the facility] well,” Cordes said. “We looked at location, size and what other services should be available in a building like this.”

The retrofitted building will be dubbed The New Addition.

The Smith family made the donation in honour of their mother Joan Smith. According to the news release, Smith was a mother of seven children who advocated for social change throughout her lifetime in order to improving the lives of vulnerable individuals. In addition to becoming Ontario’s first female Solicitor General and a previous party whip for the Liberal government, Smith was a leadership volunteer for various charity organizations including the United Way, Catholic Children’s Aid Society and The London Housing Authority.

“From an early age, she recognized her good fortune, and made a commitment to helping the most vulnerable in this province, in particular women and children. She would be proud to see us support a centre that will carry on her legacy and benefit a new generation of young mothers and their babies,” Lynne Cram, Smith’s daughter said in the news release.

According to the press release, the Smith family will also match other donations put towards the new building up to a 1$ million limit.

Ashley Wyatt, a cook at YOU and a young mother herself shared her thoughts of the Smith family's generous donation. CREDIT: JEN DOEDE

Ashley Wyatt, a cook at the YOU Made It Café and a youth mentor, spoke at the reveal about growing up as a young mother of three children and her previous struggles with mental illness and addiction.

“I think the $1 million donation is incredible. That money is going to help so many young moms and their families. I really wish there would have been something like this for my generation growing up.” Wyatt said.

The Joan Smith Building for Youth (The New Addition), will be situated at the corner of Richmond Street and York Street. Cordes said that construction on the new facility will hopefully get underway sometime next summer.