The Ontario Trillium Foundation will announce a grant of more than $100,000 to the Hong Fook Mental Health Association when the agency holds the official opening of its North York office on Friday, Feb. 3 The Mirror has learned.
The foundation will give Hong Fook $106,400 over 12 months through its community capital fund to purchase equipment and renovate the office so the organization can provide culturally appropriate mental health services to the East and Southeast Asian community.The fund is a $50-million pot provided by the provincial government and administered by the foundation. It is used to provide one-time funding to agencies needing to make capital improvements.Helen Poon, Hong Fook's holistic health manager, said the North York office, at 1751 Sheppard Ave., at Fairview Mall Drive east of Hwy. 404, will bring needed mental health services to North York's Asian communities."There is a lot of stigma (about mental health issues) in the community," she said. "There is quite a high need (for services) in North York."People will likely be more comfortable accessing culturally sensitive services in their native languages, Poon said. Last year, Hong Fook provided direct services to 2,527 clients and reached out to 16,871 community members through mental health promotion initiatives.Friday's announcement to Hong Fook is expected to be made by Bahadur Madhani, chair of the foundation's Toronto grant review team.The former chair of the YMCA of Greater Toronto, the United Way of Greater Toronto and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Canada, Madhani was named to the Order of Canada in 2001.He has also served on the boards of the Toronto Board of Trade, the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid, the Royal Ontario Museum, the advisory board of the Toronto Community Foundation, and the Ontario Provincial Police commissioner's community advisory council.For more information about Hong Fook, visit www.hongfook.ca or call 416-493-4242.