Cinemas Guzzo Community Affairs Montreal, Quebec mariaguzzo

MARIA FARELLA GUZZO, Philanthropist, Author, Masters Sc.
Psychiatry Candidate, McGill University
Maria F. Guzzo Vice-president of Community Affairs at Cinemas
Guzzo, co-founder of the Notte in Bianco fundraising event benefiting
child mental health, author of How to Train your Dreams, a children’s
book on child mental health, and a Masters student at McGill
University, in the department of Psychiatry specializing in child/youth
mental health.
Maria completed her undergraduate studies at the University of
Ottawa and graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences. She is
presently completing a Masters Sc. in Psychiatry, at Montreal’s
McGill University in the Faculty of Medicine. Her research focuses
on expressive writing and school-based mental health programs and
intervention implementation.
@ Caroline Bergeron
Cinemas Guzzo
Community Affairs
Montreal, Quebec
mariaguzzo@cinemasguzzo.com
McGill University
Department of Psychiatry
Faculty of Medicine
maria.farella@mail.mcgill.ca
Maria decided to write a children’s book How to Train your Dreams
as her interest in child mental health evolved through her
philanthropy. Her philanthropic transition from environment cancer
research to child mental health research evolved in the last few years.
Aware of the Kids Write Network (KWN), Maria decided to adopt the
6-step concept as she was completing her manuscript to better
understand this process. Maria’s philanthropic work is 100% handson. Her goal is to help raise awareness of child mental health issues in
hopes of reducing the stigma and giving children a fighting chance for
a better future.
In 2014, Maria was honoured and received the Woman of Action
award by the Israel Cancer Research Fund of the Montreal Jewish
General Hospital. This award recognizes Maria’s efforts and
contributions in making a difference through her achievements,
leadership and dedication in the business, medical and philanthropic
communities.
In 2015, Maria was honoured and received the Italian-Montreal
Woman of the Year Award given by the Quebec-Canadian Pugliese
Federation. Recognizing outstanding individuals who have made a
difference through their achievements, leadership and dedication in
the business, medical and philanthropic communities.
She serves on a number of Boards including La Fondation Mgr Arthur
Deschênes, Les Grands Ballets Canadien, The Kids Write Network,
l’Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies foundation (Centre Hospitalier de soins
psychiatriques), and the Institut universitaire en santé mentale
foundation.
MARIA FARELLA GUZZO
Philanthropist
Cinemas Guzzo, Community Affairs
V.P. Community Affairs
Montreal, Quebec
450.961.2945
email: mariaguzzo@cinemasguzzo.com
www.notteinbianco.com
Author
How to Train Your Dreams
Kids Write Network
Montreal, Quebec
Masters Sc. Psychiatry
McGill University
Department of Psychiatry
Faculty of Medicine
maria.farella@mail.mcgill.ca
DEGREES
MASTERS SC. PSYCHIATRY CANDIDATE, McGill University, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec
BACHELORS SOCIAL SC., University of Ottawa, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario
CERTIFICATES
TRI-COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT, Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans Course on Research
Ethics (TCPS 2: Core)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER
L’Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Centre Hospitalier de soins psychiatriques, since 2015
L’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, since 2015
The Kids Write Network, since 2015
Les Grands Ballets Canadien, since 2014
La Fondation Mgr Arthur Deschênes, since 2013
MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS/BOOK TOURS INVITED SPEAKER
INVITED SPEAKER
2002/2003
Speaker at Lauren Hill Academy promoting awareness in mental health
BOOK TOUR
November 2015
JEWISH PUBIC LIBRARY BOOK TOUR
• JPPS- Jewish People’s & Peretz School
• UTT- United Talmud Torahs
• Merton School
• Solomon Schechter Academy
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SEMINARS
April 2016- Paragraphs Bookstore, Montreal, Qc
Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival for Children
Leading a seminar for expressive writing techniques for youth
MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
President and co-founder of the Notte In Bianco charity event since 2008 (funds raised from 2008-to-date:
over $2,000,000.00) benefiting The Guzzo Environment-Cancer Research Chair of the University of
Montreal, The Montreal Jewish General Hospital, The Montreal Children’s Hospital, The Canadian Queen
Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships,The Montreal’s Shriners Hospital and child mental health
research
Supporter of the 2nd Annual Mindstrong Charity Fitness, with Dr. Karl Looper, event benefiting the Youth
Division of the Department of Psychiatry of the Jewish General Hospital, June 2016.
Supporter of the Mouvement Santé Mentale Québec Association, May 2016
Supporter of the Jewish General Hospital- ENT department, May 2016
Supporter of the Jewish General Hospital- Centre for Child Development and Mental Health, May 2016
Supporter of Laboratoire d’Études des Troubles de l’Ordre de la Psychopathologie en Enfance de
l’Université du Québec à Montréal Research Project, 2016
Supporter of Autisme Montérégie, 2016
Supporter of the Montreal Children’s Library, 2016
Supporter of l’Association québecoise du syndrome de la Tourette, situated at l’Hôpital Rivière-desPrairies, Centre Hospitalier de soins psychiatriques (under 18), 2016
Supporter of the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Foundation, 2016
Supporter of the Buanderie Centrale de Montréal, 2016
Supporter of Centre Nationale de Danse-Thérapie des Grands Ballets Canadien, 2016
Bell Canada Ambassador for 2016/2017 mental health fundraising campaign, 2016
Supporter of a youth Fundraising Event in mental health in high schools in the Greater Montreal Area to
promote awareness and destigmatization of mental health, benefiting the Douglas Mental Health University
Institute, with Dr. Jai Shah, psychiatrist and researcher at the Program for Prevention and Early
Intervention in Psychosis, April 2016
Supporter and collaborator of the Shield of Athena’s Awareness Campaign, a non-profit organization for
victims / women of family violence, March 2016
Jewish General Hospital- supporter of the Cardiology/Emergency Pavillion K fundraising event, March
2016
Member of the Circle of Ambassadors of the Bal des Lumières fundraising event presented by Bell, in
support of the Fondation des maladies mentales, l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal
Fondation and the Douglas Hospital for Mental Health University Hospital Foundation, March 2016
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Supporter of the Montreal Community Cares Foundation charity event. Honoured at this event while giving
awards by recognizing outstanding individuals who have made a difference in the Montreal community,
May 2015
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: Involvement in this organization for the recognition of the success
journey of youth self-discovery and development, 2015
Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies: Involvement in de-stigmatization and awareness campaign for child mental
health, 2015
Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital (Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal): Involvement
in de-stigmatization and awareness campaign for adult mental health, 2015
Bell Let’s Talk Campaign: Involvement in Bell’s de-stigmatization and awareness campaign for mental
health 2015 and 2016
Donor, supporter and child supervisor of the Kids Write Network, 2015+
Supporter and collaborator of the Shield of Athena’s Awareness Campaign, a non-profit organization for
victims / women of family violence, 2015
Supporter of a youth Fundraising Event in mental health in high schools in the Greater Montreal Area to
promote awareness and destigmatization of mental health, benefiting the Douglas Mental Health University
Institute with psychologist Dr. Camillo Zachia, April 2015.
Supporter and donor of Les Grands Ballets Canadien fundraising initiative for the creation of their new
mental health based dance therapy clinics in Montreal.
Supporter of the Giant Steps Foundation annual fundraising event, to celebrate 25 years of generosity
towards autistic children, 2015
Supporter of the Autism Speaks Canada annual fundraising event, in collaboration with Toys R Us, 2015
Supporter of Miriam Home for Autistic Children, June 2015
Supporter of the 1st Annual Mindstrong Charity Fitness event benefiting the Department of Psychiatry of
the Jewish General Hospital, June 2015
Supporter and guest speaker of the Perspectives II Inner City School, since May 2015
Douglas Hospital: Involvement in annual awareness campaign for mental health- anorexia/bulimia
department, 2014
Assisted in a surgery at the Shriners Hospital with Dr. Thierry Benaroch. The patient was a 4-year old girl,
a foster child. Reason: my curiosity in assisting a surgery and wanting to be there for a child with no
family post-surgery, October 2014
Honorary Member of The Canadian Philanthropic Children's Circle of Care Program, since 2013
Supporter of the Pedal for Kids in 2004, benefiting the Montreal Children’s Hospital, 2004
SCHOLARSHIPS
Recipient of a scholastic grant given by The Canadian Italian Business & Professional Association, 1995
Recipient of a scholastic grant given by The Canadian Italian Business & Professional Association, 1998
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Recipient of a scholastic grant given by McGill University for Masters Sc. in Psychiatry, 2015
Recipient of a scholastic grant given by Pandion Investments Ltd., 2015
Recipient of a scholastic grant given by La Fondation Mgr. Arthur Deschênes, 2015
MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH PROJECTS
Collaborator in a youth mental health research project in collaboration with McGill University and the
Psychiatric Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, involving the Kids Write Network, a 6-step literacy
program for children self-publishing children’s books, 2015
AWARDS/DISTINCTIONS/HONORS
ITALIAN-MONTREAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD given by the Quebec-Canadian Pugliese Federation.
Recognizing outstanding individuals who have made a difference through their achievements, leadership
and dedication in the business, medical and philanthropic communities, 2015
ISRAEL CANCER RESEARCH FUND HONORARY FELLOWSHIP AWARD given by the Israel Cancer Research
Fund, 2015
MONTREAL COMMUNITY CARES FOUNDATION, honoured by being recognized as an outstanding
individual who has made a difference in the Montreal community, May 2015
WOMAN OF ACTION AWARD given by the Israel Cancer Research Fund. Recognizing outstanding
individuals who have made a difference through their achievements, leadership and dedication in the
business, medical and philanthropic communities, 2014
38TH ANNUAL ISRAEL CANCER RESEARCH FUND AWARD, I received an honour for my dedication and
commitment to the fight against cancer, June 2014
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