MAKEITBLUE – the non-profit organisation behind the #LightItBlue campaign – has made its first charitable donation – of £4,000 – to event industry mental health and wellbeing organisation, EventWell.
Launched by events industry professionals in 2020 in direct response to the mental health crisis facing the industry, MAKEITBLUE has made its primary area of focus those live events colleagues who have lost work and income through the Covid-19 pandemic.
MAKEITBLUE Director Tim Owen, said: “As an events-specific charitable company, EventWell’s mission and objectives align perfectly with our own. We’re delighted to channel our first donation to support EventWell’s pledge towards the mental health of people who have had no work for nearly a year and who are in dire financial and emotional distress”.
Helen Moon, Chief Executive Officer, EventWell said: “We are incredibly grateful for this grant and belief in the mental health work and support we are offering to the industry. This support and collaboration will make an immediate difference to the lives of event professionals who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances and strain through no fault of their own, and we want to thank MAKEITBLUE for standing with us.”
MAKEIBLUE was formed as a community interest company in 2020 by the collective of live events professionals who had sparked the #LightItBlue campaign prompting hundreds of buildings and landmarks to illuminate blue all over the world as a tribute to medical and healthcare workers fighting to save lives under Covid-19.
The company has itself been the recipient of funds raised by #WeMakeEvents – the movement launched to avert the collapse of the entertainment events industry by raising funds and lobbying for government support.
MAKEITBLUE’s first fundraising project was an auction of artworks in December 2020, which raised just over £5,000.