Demi Lovato launches foundation in father's honor

Singer Demi Lovato has launched a scholarship program for the mentally ill in her late father's honor following his unexpected death over the weekend (22-23Jun13).

Patrick Lovato, who was largely estranged from his daughter, passed away on 22 June (13), leaving the Skyscraper hitmaker devastated and in a state of shock.

During an appearance on breakfast show Good Morning America on Thursday (27Jun13), she said, "I'm handling it OK. My father and I didn't have the most ideal relationship, but at the end of the day he's still my dad and I grew up with him. He's a wonderful person."

The 20 year old, who has bipolar disorder, reveals her dad struggled with an undisclosed mental illness as well, and now she's teamed up with bosses at the CAST Recovery center in California to provide financial help to those in desperate need of treatment.

She explained, "I've dealt with mental illnesses, but my father also dealt with mental illness. He wasn't able to function very well in society and that happens to a lot of people. So this week I'm launching The Lovato Treatment Scholarship program... with CAST Recovery, which is a treatment center that I've worked really, really closely with... I'm basically helping one person at a time... pay for their treatment."