A family’s tragedy has turned to efforts to keep their daughter’s memory alive.
Maria MacMillan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Nipissing University and had dreams of devoting her life to helping others through a career in psychology.
Sadly, this dream was never realized as Maria passed away on May 6, 2006 after a courageous battle with an eating disorder.
Maria was happiest when helping people say her parents Floyd and Ruby MacMillan.
Her charisma and devotion to excellence was evident throughout her school studies and athletic accomplishments.
In loving memory of their daughter, Floyd and Ruby have announced this year’s three recipients of the Maria MacMillan Endowment Fund grants.
The endowment serves as both a celebration of her life and a commitment to helping others.
The first grant is awarded to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit. With this funding, the unit will be able to provide two beanbag chairs, a bookcase and clothing for the patients who arrive in crisis. The six bed unit opened April 1st and has already cared for over 70 young patients.
The second grant will purchase an iPad for the District and Regional Inpatient Mental Health Units. The use of tablet technology in the delivery of therapy has become more common. Patients are using the tablets for socialization, education, as a memory aid and even to manage their moods.
The third grant helped in funding the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation’s Celebrity Speakers Series. The series brought Catherine and Valerie Pringle to North Bay to speak about their family experience with mental health challenges, breaking down stigma and changing the attitudes of people towards mental health issues.
Remembered by family and friends as a loving woman, Maria’s mother Ruby explained that the endowment was created to symbolize that her daughter’s life had meaning. Each year a disbursement from the endowment fund is used to support a variety of mental health needs for patients at the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
