Bella Magazine’s former cover model Taraji P. Henson knows all to well about evolving and giving back. Giving Tuesday kicked off The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation (TASF) and The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) announced their partnership to provide support to essential workers, first responders, health care providers, doctors, individuals, families and youth who are navigating stressful situations, learning how to cope with major lifestyle changes, battling mental-health conditions while in isolation, and/or struggling with substance abuse, during this pandemic. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving and unity and is an emergency response to the unprecedented need for therapy for mental-health that cause stress/trauma due to COVID-19.
The partnership consists of a Matching Gift campaign to support free access to Mental Health Therapy in the response to the COVID-19 crisis. All funds, up to $25,000, raised by TASF on Giving Tuesday will be matched and donated to BLHF. Supporters can text SHAKUR to 44321 to donate. Immediately after Giving Tuesday, TASF will launch a fundraising campaign for Phase I of the Healing Tank, an ongoing mental-health wellness program that will allow individuals an opportunity to receive services designed to address mental health needs; i.e. depression, anxiety, substance abuse etc. and to help with long-term trauma and triggers caused by COVID-19. The campaign will remain active until Tupac Shakur’s birthday, June 16, 2020. For more information, visit TASF.org.
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation recognizes that during this difficult time, affording the cost of mental-health services can be a barrier in the African American community. In an effort to aid in providing resources during this pandemic, BLHF launched the COVID-19 Free Virtual Therapy Support Campaign to raise money for mental health services provided by licensed clinicians in their network. Individuals with life-changing stressors and anxiety related to COVID-19 will have the cost for up to five individual sessions defrayed on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are committed or exhausted.
“No one should suffer in silence. Our vision is to change the perception of mental health in the black community. Together, we will make a difference. This is our legacy.” – Taraji P. Henson“It is my belief that in order to honor our ancestors and ourselves, we must look inwards; identify and interrogate the root causes of our traumas. What we as an organization wish to offer are observable steps to reach these goals and we are happy to partner with the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to make a difference within the mental health community. I believe we are worth the effort” – Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur.By joining the Giving Tuesday movement, your gift will provide free emergency virtual therapy sessions with trained therapist(s) to address specific needs that will help cope with stress and address trauma due to Covid-19.
For more information and/or to donate, please visit The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation or The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.
