Disruptive Thinker? Creative Innovator? Movember Needs You!

/EINPresswire.com/ -- Today The Movember Foundation launches the Social Innovators Challenge, calling on the best and brightest minds in Canada to help address the hidden issue of male social connectedness -- an issue that has a significant impact on the health of men, including increased risk of suicide, depression and anxiety. In the second initiative of its kind in Canada, the Movember Foundation has pledged over $5.2 million CAD to help bring ideas to reality for anyone who can provide game-changing solutions to this escalating crisis. The Challenge asks people to submit an idea for change that has the opportunity to help tackle some of the most pressing issues faced by men.

The Movember Social Innovators Challenge will be launched in Canada, the UK, and Australia and calls upon anyone with a passion for innovation to submit their big life changing ideas on how to restore and strengthen men's social connections,

Phase 1 -- Ideas (summarized within 500 words) must be submitted online by December 9^th 2015. Following evaluation up to 50 ideas will be granted up to $25,000 and asked to design, create and submit a pilot plan for their idea by January 2016.

Phase 2 -- Following an external evaluation of the pilot plans a minimum of 14 projects that have the greatest potential to help restore and strengthen the social connections of men will be awarded up to $200,000 in May 2016 to test their ideas over a two year period.

Research from the World Health Organization has shown that increasing the level of social connectedness among men can have a significant impact on their health and even reduce their risk of suicide. Nearly one in four men worldwide experience low levels of social support and a quarter of them have no one outside of their immediate family to rely on. Currently, there are no existing initiatives or real solutions that have successfully addressed the issue of social connections and the isolation men can experience during significant life-events. The Movember Foundation hopes that the challenge will provide the incentive and framework to help innovative ideas surface and empower people with a desire change the status quo.

"Encouraging men to be more socially connected and drawing on these connections when they go through tough times and transitions in life is a critical priority for the Movember Foundation as we seek to contribute to the reduction in the number of men that die by suicide," said Paul Villanti, Movember Foundation Executive Director of Programs. "Having identified through Movember Foundation funded research some of the key challenges that need to be addressed, we are now launching this international challenge to test and prove the best ideas to help increase the level of social connectedness among men."

To find out more and submit an idea visit: https://socialconnection.fluidreview.com or contact: socialconnections@movember.com

KEY DATES:

Online registration and submission of idea	December 9, 2015
Invitation to pitch idea	w/o January 25, 2016
Pitch deadline	March 4, 2016 - 5:00 pm (EST)
Anticipated funding announcement	May 2016

About the Movember Foundation

The Movember Foundation is a global charity raising funds and awareness for men's health. These funds deliver breakthrough research and support services to allow men to live happier, healthier, longer lives. Since 2003, millions have joined the men's health movement, raising more than $676 million and funding over 1,000 projects through impact investments, focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.

The Foundation runs awareness and fundraising activities year-round, with the annual Movember campaign in November being globally recognized for its fun and innovative approach to raising money and getting men to take action for their health. During Movember, we challenge men to grow a moustache or to make a commitment to get active and MOVE, both of which are about real action for health and are done to spark conversation and raise vital funds and awareness.

The Foundation's vision is to have an everlasting impact on the state of men's health. Movember is a registered charity in Canada -- BN 848215604 RR0001. For more information visit Movember.com.

For more information please contact:
Jill Kenney
778-837-1122
jill@getfreshpr.com

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