No Child asks to be born with a mental illness

The C.U.E. Campaign: Care ¡E Understanding ¡E Empathy

The C.U.E. Campaign of ARIEL'S LEGACY, is a national, youth-based Bipolar Disorder awareness and fundraising program. This Foundation will work with dedicated volunteer students, teachers, professionals and administrators to implement a Pilot Program (launching in 2011-2012 in 20 schools) for eventual implementation in schools and communities across North America.

Because school attendance is a near universal experience among North American youth, ARIEL'S LEGACY recognizes that schools provide an accessible and appropriate setting for an awareness and educational dialogue on mental illness, generally, and Bipolar Disorder, specifically, to occur. The goals of the ARIEL'S LEGACY C.U.E. Campaign are to: (1) enable students to become more aware and understand the symptoms of mental illness and Bipolar Disorder, (2) more positively and empathetically respond to their peers who seem to be "different" and (3) hopefully care enough to reach out to a fellow student who needs their help and friendship.

This C.U.E. Campaign will empower students with reliable information, access to help, support and innovative tools to positively impact the environment for Bipolar youth. This will enable all students to better understand the roots and implications of mental illness. The C.U.E. Campaign of ARIEL'S LEGACY is a peer-to-peer informational program wherein students sell "CUEcards" to one another, while increasing awareness and the need for research to fight this illness. ARIEL'S LEGACY promotes youth volunteerism, leadership and open dialogue around this disorder¡Xwith the ultimate goal of decreasing the incidence of catastrophic situations among an at-risk demographic, as well as promoting a sense of volunteerism and responsibility to community.

ARIEL'S LEGACY promises participating schools that 100% of the funds they raise through the C.U.E. Campaign will go directly toward funding youth specific Bipolar research and related programs.

ARIEL'S LEGACY, launched in 2009, in New York and Toronto, was founded by a group of dedicated individuals with a vision of raising awareness of Bipolar Disorder amongst youth and teens. Their Mission is to raise funds for research and programs. Over the past fifteen years, a similar awareness/educational program (aimed at HiV/Aids awareness among youth) has already reached more than 3 million students (middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities).

Goals for ARIEL'S LEGACY C.U.E. Campaign

To launch a Pilot Program of 20 schools.
To strengthen the current school health curriculum by providing innovative materials and resources to students, teachers, professionals and administrators.
To decrease the stigma, myths and stereotypes surrounding Bipolar Disorder among youth.
To encourage schools and community centers to incorporate guest speakers into their programming who can speak of their experiences living with Bipolar Disorder.
To significantly increase awareness about pediatric and adolescent Bipolar Disorder and further engage students through an innovative Campaign.
To engage more students and increase volunteerism and community spirit.
To aim for high retention rates of participating schools in the Pilot Program.
To achieve targeted fundraising revenues, so as to fund youth specific Bipolar Disorder research and programs.

Marketing and C.U.E. Campaign Designs

In 2011/2012, twenty schools will participate in ARIEL'S LEGACY pilot programs. We recognize that schools have varying needs with respect to different age groups and demographics, when it comes to mental health education and awareness. in order to effectively contribute to Adolescent Bipolar Disorder awareness and information in schools, The C.U.E. Campaign will provide schools with Campaign material options, so that appropriate programs can be customized.