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Let GenWell be the catalyst to get you to reach out and get connected face-to-face on GenWell Weekend, this May 3-5
TORONTO – GenWell’s 2024 Spring GenWell Weekend campaign is underway, and we are inviting people to join our human connection movement this May 3, 4 and 5, by making us the catalyst to reach out to friends, family, neighbours, classmates or colleagues and getting connected face-to-face. As always, participating in a GenWell Weekend can be as simple as having coffee with a neighbor, a pizza lunch at the office or in the classroom, a street long potluck or getting friends together for a board game or sporting activity. The size and activity don’t matter, we just want to be your excuse and catalyst for you to reach out and get connected and help make the world a happier and healthier place.
*** Click to watch GenWell’s Spring video ***
“It’s never too late for us to create connection habits, and I look forward to hearing stories from across
the country of people who took the initiative to get connected with friends, family, neighbours, classmates or colleagues,” said Pete Bombaci, Founder & CEO of GenWell. “Big or small, every connection counts and GenWell is excited to be building a movement where every Canadian can feel a greater sense of connection and community.”
*** GenWell’s Founder & CEO, Pete Bombaci, is available for interviews
to discuss the importance of social interaction ***
GenWell Weekends are strategically selected weekends that research suggests people may benefit most from an opportunity to get connected with others. By rallying 39 million Canadians to connect during the same period of time we make it easier for some to take action. We also give people an excuse and permission to reach out and connect with others, knowing that it’s good for us and those we connect with. We also provide an excuse and serve as a catalyst to help those who may struggle to reach out and a reminder for those who find it easy.
So why did we pick the first weekend in May? Here are a few reasons…
- Seasonal transition can be difficult for many people and social connections can help with
the transitions. - It’s a great excuse to get people reconnected after the dark nights and cold days of winter.
- Many students return home from university/college during the last week of April.
- We want people to connect before the May “2-4” weekend when some begin their summer travel and vacation plans.
- Social pressures of springtime can create challenges for some to reach out and get connected.
- Suicide rates are highest during springtime.
*** Download our GenWell Weekend Media Toolkit here ***
Like any good weekend, our GenWell Weekends include Fridays. We do this to inspire businesses and schools to start the conversation in workplaces and classrooms across the country which enables employees and students to take that message into their homes, streets and communities where they live. We also recognize that not everyone works Monday to Friday in a 9-to-5 job. By including Friday in the GenWell Weekend, we hope to build on our intention to be an inclusive Human Connection Movement that welcomes Canadians to be a part of the solution to the disconnected world we find ourselves in today.
Research shows that social isolation, disconnection and loneliness are on the rise in society across a range of age and social groups. Feelings of loneliness can have negative health impacts such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even early-onset death. Disconnection from others can also lead to polarization, anger, hate, violence and more negative societal consequences. We need increased human connection in our world more than ever before, and GenWell wants to help us all make it happen!
HOW TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT
You can join us on GenWell Weekend, this May 3, 4 & 5, by registering your intention to reach out and get connected with others for your wellness or theirs. Some other tips to get involved include:
- Recognize the importance of human connection to the health and well-being of your community.
- Help us build a more connected Canada by sharing our social media posts with your community leading up to the GenWell Weekend.
- Consider using our leadership tools to build your own social media content and share with your community, and make sure you use the hashtag #gofirst to inspire others to take action.
- Challenge yourself and your community to register their intention to get connected on GenWell Weekend at www.GenWellWeekend.org.
For more information, or to connect with us online, please visit https://genwellweekend.org/.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jamie Deans
647.284.7710
About Genwell
A registered Canadian non-profit organization, Genwell (formerly The GenWell Project) is a grassroots Global Human Connection Movement, whose mission is to make the world a happier and healthier place by educating people about the importance of face-to-face social connection as a proactive step to improve our overall health, happiness, and longevity, as well as for those around us. The organization shares information, research, tips, tools and motivation through its social channels and website to help people create healthy connection habits. It also activates around two weekends a year – spring and fall – when it sets out to be the catalyst that triggers people to reach out and get connected face-to-face with family, friends, neighbours, classmates and colleagues. Learn more at genwell.ca.
