ABOUT US
RISE AT A GLANCE
Empowering People. Launching Ideas.
Rise is a national organization dedicated to empowering people with mental health and addiction challenges to achieve greater social and economic inclusion through entrepreneurship.
Why? Because mental health significantly impacts Canadians’ financial and social well-being. In any given year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health or addiction challenge. Amongst the population of people with disabilities, those with a mental illness face the highest degree of stigmatization in the workplace and the greatest barriers to employment (CAMH).
Entrepreneurship is a powerful catalyst to change that.
Through training, mentorship, micro-financing and other customs supports, Rise helps individuals build the skills and access the capital they need to launch a small business that can improve quality of life and enable them to support themselves, their families and communities.
Over a decade, Rise has benefitted from the time and talent of more than 680 volunteers, disbursed over $2 million in low-interest loans and established training and mentorship programs that have helped to launch more than 500 businesses nationwide. Today, we work in 9 locations across Canada—and growing.
The impact is undeniable.
According to the Rise 2020 Social Inclusion Report:
- 79% of clients say that they take pride in establishing or enhancing their business, and 71% express confidence in themselves as entrepreneurs.
- 78% report a decrease in the amount of provincial income support they receive as a result of their business.
- 71% say they feel they are playing a useful role on society and that establishing their own business has helped to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.
Together, we are changing lives and strengthening communities by unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of all Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges.
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OUR MISSION
Rise empowers Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges to achieve greater economic and social inclusion through entrepreneurship training, small business loans and custom supports.
OUR VISION
Strengthening communities by unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of all Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges.
OUR VALUES
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Learn more about Rise.
Download our brochure to learn more about how we invest in entrepreneurs who’ve faced mental health and addiction challenges as they grow and launch their innovative business ideas.
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Sandra and Joseph Rotman: The visionaries behind Rise
Philanthropic and community leaders, Sandra and Joseph Rotman, envisioned supporting people with mental health and addiction challenges create better futures for themselves, their families and their communities.
FY2021 Impact Report: Rising Above The Challenge
We’re celebrating rising above the challenge by providing entrepreneurial education and start-up financing for people with mental health and addiction challenges across Canada. Learn about how we supported entrepreneurs despite the barriers of the pandemic.
Rise Above: Strategic Plan, 2021-2023
Rise Above is our rally cry. It’s a strategic plan focused on taking our work broader, deeper and to all regions of Canada. We’re mobilizing our community to help empower Canadians with mental health challenges towards greater social and economic inclusion through entrepreneurship.