Kincardine native Garrett McFadden hosted the 5th annual McFadden's Movement Celebrity Golf Classic on July 18 in Guelph at Victoria Park East Golf Club.
McFadden's Movement was started by the former Guelph Storm captain in 2016 as a means of raising awareness for youth mental health and to raise money for local charities like WesForYouth Online and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
McFadden says more and more Storm alumni seem to come back every year, and current players are out every year, continuing a great tradition he learned as a player of giving back.
"It's been a cool thing to kind of tie that back in and now be able to sort of influence the younger generation to show them what it's about and what I learned when I came in here at 16, 17, and to have them in hear at that age and show them what this community's all about. It's special, for sure," McFadden beamed.
Since the tournament started in 2020, it has raised nearly $100,000, with over $30,000 coming in last year in a record fundraiser.
The tournament is always a highlight and a day filled with friends and a sense of community, but Garrett says the message has always been that mental health is important and there are supports out there no matter what you may struggle with. Garrett and Steph Coratti are the co-founders of the movement, and he says they share the same drive to continue pushing that message out there.
"I think we're both just very passionate about mental health and about the help that people need and the resources that are out there and we're pretty driven to help out what is out there with, whether it's CHMA or WesForYouth, and to give them every chance that they can to support the youth that need it," added McFadden.
McFadden's Movement has raised nearly $160,000 total since its inception, with the 10th anniversary of the movement coming up in 2016. When he thinks about coming up on a decade, McFadden says he's just grateful and overwhelmed with all the support that he and Coratti have seen.
"As a human being and being able to feel super fulfilled by making a difference in my community, and being able to influence and help people when they're struggling and at their lowest points, it's been a really cool thing to think about," McFadden said.
You can learn more about the organization by visiting McFaddensMovement.com.