Indigenous-led Health Charity Celebrates Campaign Success on National Philanthropy Day

Indigenous-led Health Charity Celebrates Campaign Success on National Philanthropy Day

With Broad Community Support, Anishnawbe Health Foundation exceeded its $10 Million campaign goal in support of a new home for Anishnawbe Health Toronto and Urban Indigenous Healthcare priorities

November 15, 2021 (Toronto, Ontario)

Today, as part of National Philanthropy Day celebrations, Anishnawbe Health Foundation (AHF) announced that they have exceeded their inaugural campaign goal and raised over $10.3 million. At the heart of this comprehensive campaign was raising funds to build a new home for Anishnawbe Health Toronto (AHT). This purpose-built facility with connection to land, light and ceremony will further support the reclamation of culture and identity as well as health and healing for the urban Indigenous community.

Launched in the spring of 2017, the More than a Bandage Solution campaign was the first major fundraising undertaking for the new Indigenous-led charity. The campaign served as a platform to build a new, thriving philanthropic foundation to support the health and wellness of urban Indigenous peoples. At the time, less than 1% of donor support in Canada supported Indigenous causes.

“Reaching this milestone, during a challenging past couple of years, demonstrates how dedicated our community is to witnessing the completion of a much needed Indigenous-led community health centre,” says Andre Morriseau, Chair, Board of Directors, AHF. “The success of this campaign is a direct result of the generous and kind investment of time and money from our volunteers, donors, staff and the Indigenous community at large.”

Led by lead donor The Krawczyk Family Foundation, the campaign has received tremendous support from a diverse group of donors and champions. Over 3,800 donors and volunteers have come together to contribute to the project – individuals, families, interfaith groups, community organizations, foundations, labour unions, corporations and members of the Indigenous community. The campaign also received wide support from the Corktown and Canary District neighbourhood where the new centre will be located.

This past June, over 700 people watched the livestream of the ground breaking on the new building as part of larger Indigenous Hub for the city. The new 45,000 square foot centre is set to open in the summer of 2023 to deliver holistic health programs and services that integrate Indigenous and Western approaches.

Campaign funds have also increased organizational capacity at AHT to serve the community, including vital direct support during the pandemic. In addition, the campaign has set Anishnawbe Health Foundation on the road towards their next fundraising priority, providing the seed funding for a Traditional Knowledge Training program at AHT to increase community access to Traditional Healers, Osh-ka-be-Wis and Medicine People.

For AHF Founder and AHT Executive Director Joe Hester, donor support goes beyond just dollars. “It’s difficult to convey what the donors have been able to do for us. Knowing that the wider community is behind this project, it goes in large measure towards the whole idea of reconciliation,” says Hester. “We look forward to continuing to walk this good path to a brighter future.”

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For more information and to schedule interviews, please contact:

Angel Miller
Manager, Communications & Events
Anishnawbe Health Foundation
amiller@aht.ca
416-843-1295

ABOUT ANISHNAWBE HEALTH FOUNDATION AND ANISHNAWBE HEALTH TORONTO

Anishnawbe Health Foundation is a registered charity that works with donors and partners to increase investments in urban Indigenous health and wellness by supporting the work of Anishnawbe Health Toronto and fostering the reclamation, preservation, research and application of traditional healing practices. For more information, visit www.supportanishnawbe.ca.

Anishnawbe Health Toronto is a fully accredited Community Health Centre in downtown Toronto. Its mission is to improve the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in spirit, mind, emotion and body, by providing traditional healing within a multi-disciplinary health care model. Since 1987, Anishnawbe Health Toronto has been the only provider of western medical services and traditional healing services to a rapidly growing, urban Indigenous community. For more information, visit www.aht.ca.