Mississauga, ON – On Friday, June 30th, local MPP Natalia Kusendova-Bashta met with the team at Mind Forward Brain Injury Services to hear more about $264,200 in funding they received through two Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grants in 2022.
“I’m delighted that Mind Forward Brain Injury Services has received significant support from the OTF to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Natalia Kusendova, MPP for Mississauga Centre. “This positive impact on the community will undoubtedly be felt in Mississauga and beyond, as Mind Forward continues to make a difference in the lives of those affected by brain injuries. Mississauga can take pride in being home to an organization that is committed to improving the lives of individuals with acquired brain injuries.”
A Resilient Communities Fund grant of $146,300 was awarded in March 2022 to help Mind Forward Rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. The funds allowed Mind Forward implement e-learning software called Dayforce Learning.
This learning management system delivers consistent, on-demand, training for front line staff. Furthermore, Mind Forward has launched a new shift management venture through a partnership with ShiftLink. Workforce shortages have been an ongoing challenge since the COVID-19 pandemic and this new system of service delivery has allowed Mind Forward to optimize its staffing and resource usage to address this issue.
A $117,900 Capital grant, awarded in November 2022, addressed a crucial community need by funding improvement the accessibility of Mind Forward’s Head Office. Mind Forward collaborated with Lisgar Commercial Real Estate and Lakeside Contracting Company Ltd. to install permanent ramps and railings at the front and rear of the building. This will address ongoing issues with safety, building accessibility and program inclusiveness and provide appropriate space for accessible transit to load and unload program participants. Automatic door operators were also installed by UTS Group Inc. throughout the building.
“Mind Forward is grateful for this generous funding and the positive impact that Ontario Trillium Foundation’s grant will have on our clients,” said Andrea Paszti, Mind Forward CEO. “These grants have enabled us as an organization to improve our ability to staff our homes and programs to provide people the care they deserve. Furthermore, by ensuring ramps and door operators are in place, we break down barriers and empower individuals with acquired brain injuries to navigate the world with dignity and independence. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their generous funding.”
Mind Forward is a non-profit charitable organization which provides community-based rehabilitation and life-long supports for adults in Peel, Halton and Dufferin counties. Mind Forward is committed to offering services to all individuals touched by brain injury (including clients, family members and caregivers) through a team approach to service planning and goal-setting. For more information, please visit our website at: http://mindforward.org.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
For Media Inquiries, please contact:
Andrea Paszti
Chief Executive Officer, Mind Forward Brain Injury Services Ontario
905-949-4411 x 254
Andrea.Paszti@mindforward.org