Surrey, BC. (July 20, 2018) – Moving Forward Family Services (MFFS) is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from the Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) Health Foundation. The PBC Health Foundation’s Kickstart Projects grant will fund capital investment projects at MFFS, helping improve their low-barrier mental health services.
MFFS will use this generous grant to assist with day-to-day operations, including strengthening the Wi-Fi, redesigning the website, and upgrading office technology. This funding will allow MFFS to improve counselling services, increase the efficiency of administrative processes, provide greater organizational transparency, and help clients and primary service providers connect more directly with our mental health services.
“We’re a grassroots organization, so this $10,000 will make such a difference”, says Gary Thandi, Executive Director of MFFS. MFFS anticipates that this new funding will allow them to serve an additional 200 clients per month and take on an additional 10-20 interns. “We’ve grown so quickly in the past two years. We’re so grateful that these funds will allow us to continue growing and keeping pace with the needs of the community”.
The PBC Health Foundation awards grants through a competitive application to improve the health outcomes of chronic diseases and mental illnesses and finance one-time projects that directly address the health care needs of British Columbians. “We are delighted to help Moving Forward Family Services provide more services to their fast-growing client base,” says Richard Taylor, Chair of the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation. “The life-changing work they are doing in communities across the Lower Mainland is making a meaningful impact on the lives of many British Columbians.”
Left to Right: Rob Chiarello (VP, Human Resources & Executive Sponsor of the PBC Health Foundation), Ratha Chek (Counselling Supervisor at Moving Forward Family Services), and Gary Thandi (Executive Director of Moving Forward Family Services).
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About Moving Forward Family Services
Moving Forward Family Services provides access to low-barrier, free or low-cost counselling services throughout the Lower Mainland. Our clients range in age from 4-84 and come from extremely diverse backgrounds. Our vision at Moving Forward Family Services is to ensure no one is ever turned away from quality counselling services because of lack of funds or long waitlists. We use a client-centered, anti- oppressive approach to provide safe, accessible, affordable counselling to all. We specialize in caring for under-served populations and are working hard to reduce stigma and increase access to basic mental health services. For more information, visit www.movingforwardfamilyservices.com
