Johnston Group created the Advisor Charitable Match Program to team up with our advisors across the country who are supporting community initiatives that make a difference.
July 2024
It’s concerning when a child in your community lives in poverty – with its impact on their mental wellness or that of a caregiver – because you know it results in more than a difficult childhood, it often leads to similar issues for them as an adult.
“In our community, we’re seeing a lot of adults in poverty,” says Steve Myles of Myles-Gerrish Financial Group in Miramichi, New Brunswick. “Youth First Miramichi is absolutely a preventative measure. You hope their work will help break the cycle.”
Youth First Miramichi (YFM) strives to provide care for youth who have experienced trauma, struggle with mental illness, or just need a safe place to stay. They believe in surrounding them with positive, enthusiastic, and caring individuals. Their homes provide a therapeutic environment for youth to stay and work toward their life goals.
For YFM, every donation is an investment in our youth and a way to show them that we believe in their potential. “Your support helps us provide at risk young people with the guidance and opportunities they need to rise above their challenges and create brighter futures. Your kindness is changing lives.”
Ian Gerrish, the other half of the Myles-Gerrish team, says he and Myles are both long-term members of Kinsmen Club and interact with a lot of not-for-profits. “The demand is increasing. To hear there is a child with nowhere safe to live, it’s hard to take. They (YFM) don’t have a huge presence in the fundraising space – so they don’t get a lot. They need the help,” says Gerrish. That’s why he and Myles decided to make a substantial donation to YFM.
Myles and Gerrish are local advisors for Chambers Plan group benefits in Miramichi, and the Plan’s administrator, Johnston Group, was excited to help share their story and match their contribution through Johnston Group’s Advisor Charitable Match Program. The program supports charitable organizations that are having a direct impact on their local communities.
“This organization is so well run and we can literally see it’s working,” says Myles. “There was a boy living under a bridge — now he’s not.” Gerrish and Myles believe this is the start of a long-term solution to the homelessness crisis.
“Everyone in this community sees what’s happening. It’s somebody’s child, it’s somebody’s brother,” says Myles. “What a great investment. It works! If you can help even one child, you’ve done something for the future of your community.”
