BOF and SickKids have partnered to make a difference against a painful condition disproportionally experienced by people of African descent that can also place considerable financial burden on families: Sickle Cell Disease. On World Sickle Cell Day, June 19, 2022, BOF and SickKids announced their shared goal to achieve better outcomes for children living with the most common genetic disease affecting the Black communities. First, we’ll achieve this by helping SickKids make medication easier and safer to take at home via a SickKids-developed technology called a capsule shredder, which will be distributed across Canada. Second, we are establishing together the Sickle Cell Disease Patient Amenities Fund at SickKids, to help over hundreds of patient families with costs not covered by government, now and in the future. Better health outcomes for Black kids. It’s happening here.
Category: What’s Up
We’ve launched our Grant Program for Education and Health with the help of @TDbank ’s generous funding. This grant program was developed to help fund Black-led, Black-serving and Black-focused not-for-profits and charities, who are leading impactful initiatives in the key areas of health and education. We are accepting applications for this grant until March 31st.
In collaboration with Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, BOF launches the Black Entrepreneur Program! This program provides a unique wrap around support, including non-repayable funds for Black Entrepreneurs who have been unable to access traditional funding. A huge thanks to CIBC & CIBC Foundation for kickstarting this program with a generous donation!
As we enter a new year, we want to thank you for your continued support of our mission to fight anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in Canada. As we welcome 2022, we can’t help but reflect on some of the great accomplishments of 2021.
Book your calendar for a Black Opportunity Fund community event on December 9th. You won’t want to miss this national round table discussion on the Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention.
There will be a large focus on gun and gang violence. Our society has a reactive approach to violent crime. It’s time to walk a different path. The public health approach recognizes that violence is the result of a complex causal system, and its approach is one that would look at prevention as opposed to reaction. You won’t want to miss this virtual gathering. The panel line up is outstanding. Thanks to Colliers Canada for your partnership on this event.
Black communities have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. How do we get out of this? Vaccinating as many people as possible is certainly part of the solution. Health professionals from Black communities discuss the impact of the pandemic and the barriers that remain.
In collaboration with: Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), Black Health Alliance, Sommet socio-économique pour le développement des jeunes des communautés noires, Quebec Black Medical association, The Black Community Resource Centre, Jamaican Association of Montreal inc., The McGill Motivational Lab, DRSP de Montréal et de Laval, Ville de Laval.