My name is Gail Mendelman. My husband, David Belson and I are co-founders of The Mack Belson Foundation. This foundation was established in memory of our son Mackenzie, a beautiful and loving four year old boy who died tragically in a drowning accident in Ste. Agathe in July 2006. What we have learned from this tragedy is that although as individuals, we have no control over the length of a life, collectively we can enrich the meaning of that life. Through this awareness, people can come together to help others in a most positive and meaningful way.

Though Mack had an auditory processing disorder, he was able to flourish because from a young age, he was receiving the help he needed. As parents of a child with a learning disability, we understand the fear and overwhelming frustration that comes with recognizing that there may be a problem. However, David and I knew that in Mack's best interest, we had to face the issue head on, with eyes wide open. We were told early on that we must be Mack's advocates, that we must stand up for him and that is exactly what we did. We began the long process of getting an assessment and then we worked hard to get the proper treatment. What mattered most was not that our child needed help, it was that he received the help he needed.

The Mack Belson Foundation, established at The Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal (JCF) is dedicated to fostering the full potential of young children with learning disabilities, challenges and developmental delays, by focusing on early intervention and support. Supplemented by generous donations from the community, our foundation helps children by assessing their needs at an early age. With this early assessment and intervention, we give children in need a head start, provide support and teach them that their challenges will not define nor limit who they are.