L-R Myrna de Leon, Zijian (Nemo) Cui, Ester Toribio, Dr. Albina Comendador
Markham, ON – (News Release published by Atin Ito in the September 2022 issue)
On August 18th, representatives from the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFFC) welcomed Zijian (Nemo) Cui, a staff representative from MPP Logan Kanapathi’s office, to an event highlighting the impact of a $43,600 Community Building Fund grant awarded by the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Awarded in 2021, the year-long grant was vital to MFFC’s continued operations.
“The Government of Ontario is committed to the safety and well-being of Ontario's Seniors, and we are proud to invest in projects such as the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians,” said Logan Kanapathi, MPP for Markham-Thornhill. “MFFC is an organization that is committed to the promotion and preservation of culture and heritage through dialogue, educational, social, and cultural activities.”
Funds from the grant were used by MFFC to purchase supplies and materials to meet public health and safety requirements, purchase technical equipment and software to deliver virtual programming, and it helped to support general operating expenses.
“The Community Building Fund grant has helped with operating the facility, delivering experiences and programs for Ontarians and the purchase of much-needed COVID-19 supplies,” added Kanapathi. “This grant also helped provide programs, events, learning and many social opportunities for our older residents to enjoy safely. Thank you to all the Board of Directors, members and volunteers who have made this centre a big success in Markham-Thornhill.”
The MFFC Centre continues to be accessed by seniors for their weekly program to promote and maintain the best quality of life, self-worth, mental simulation, physical activity and link to the outside world as well as to build a strong, healthy and supportive network for seniors. Activities such as dancing, music and computer lessons, tai chi, cooking, et cetera are all available to them. Another program that remains active is the youth performing arts group whose objectives are to develop a healthy relationship with family, school and community, empower the youth, promote social responsibility and volunteerism among youths by actively joining in community events. The youth participate in performing arts, peer mentoring, leadership training and volunteer activities.
The MFFC is truly grateful for the financial support of its organization as it is committed to continuing to preserve their space and ensure that the Centre remains accessible to all its members in the years ahead. To learn more about MFFC and what it offers, go to http://mffc.ca/.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit https://otf.ca to learn more.