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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 14 ,2 01 9 | 12 EVOL EVOL emoHruoY MOC.ERUTINRUFDOOWNEP RETSACNA - NOTSIRROM - ELLIVKAO SGNIRPSXOB / SSERTTAM ERUTINRUF MOORDEB LLA FFO %02 LLA FFO %52 9102HT71-TS1BEF elaS s'enielaV Thanks to Oakville- based Warren Y. Soper Charitable Trust, the Reach Out Centre for Kids has received a $2-million donation which will allow the charity to further assist children living with mental health issues in Halton. The money will go to the $9-million expansion of ROCK's 471 Pearl St., facili- ty in Burlington. ROCK is a non-profit, registered charitable orga- nization, and the largest ac- credited children's mental health centre in Halton. Staff at the organization said the 20,000-square-foot expansion would double the size of ROCK's existing Pearl Street centre, allow- ing it to reduce overhead costs and better provide necessary mental health prevention and interven- tion programs and services to its clients. "We were very honoured to receive this gift," said Ste- phanie Wilsack, ROCK campaign manager. "This is a commitment to the kids in our communi- ty, it's a commitment to mental health and I think it sets a precedent that in this economy and with this changing political forum people publicly and pri- vately need to step up and support what we are doing for our kids and their men-for our kids and their men-f tal health." Wilsack said this expan-Wilsack said this expan-W sion would free up space for more therapy and treat- ment rooms. She said it would also al- low the charity to provide more services through resi- dency and internship pro- grams for psychologists and other related profes- sions. Previously ROCK had to turn away students and ed- ucation partnerships due to space restrictions. Staff said the new space will allow for an expansion of internships and student placements, partnerships with hospitals, colleges, universities and agencies, both in the region and across the province and country. All of these changes are expected to result in re- duced wait times for the children seeking to access ROCK's services. The expansion will also let ROCK bring more of its Burlington programs and services under one room, colocate programs, consoli- date administrative and re- ception functions, save on rent and allow for efficient use of agency space. Wilsack said the new fa-Wilsack said the new fa-W cility will be named the Warren Y. Soper FamilyWarren Y. Soper FamilyW Centre in recognition of the $2-million donation. Jane Soper Kennedy, whose late father Warren Soper founded the trust, said the ROCK donation is the largest her family has made so far. "We're pretty excited about it. I think it is an amazing project," she said. "The things kids are dealing with today ... you read about the social me- dia, the suicides, the opioids ... I just think it is in- credibly important to reach young people and help them before they end up adults with severe psychi- $2 MILLION DONATION TO REACH OUT CENTRE FOR KIDS A design concept for the new ROCK facility at 471 Pearl St., in Burlington. ROCK photo DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com NEWS OAKVILLE-BASED WARREN Y. SOPER CHARITABLE TRUST HELPS FUND FACILITY EXPANSION See WAIT, page 15