Community News
Decades of change: The Free for All Foundation Marks 22 years of transforming lives
BY PAUL JUNOR
On Saturday, October 21st, 2023, the Free for All Foundation (FFAF) hosted its 22nd Scholarship and Community Awards Dinner. The prestigious event was held at Noor Convention Center in Brampton under the theme, “Decades of Change.” It has been sixteen years since the FFAF began giving out scholarships to deserving students in the Greater Toronto Area to attend post-secondary institutions in Canada. The promotional material notes that more than $320,000 has been awarded which has helped many young people positively impact their personal lives, employment, family, and community.
Since it was founded by David Green in 2001, FFAF has touched many lives. It is an organization dedicated to providing social justice and advocacy services for marginalized communities. The overall mission is to: engage, nurture, and inspire residents to thrive through: education, employment, and wellness opportunities. Their vision is to empower valuable youth, families, and seniors to enhance their skills for success. They are committed to sharing information through either: funders, clients, staff, and the public.
For FFAF, this gala represents not just a milestone in the life of the foundation but over two decades of positive change in our community. The guest speaker for the gala was Mr. Len Carby, who was the first Black appointed to the Peel Regional Police (PRP) Service Board. In his speech to the audience, he mentioned three values that are essential to making a difference:
Being uncomfortable
It is your discomfort that will truly enable you to change the world.
Being unsatisfied
Dissatisfaction is a catalyst for positive social change as it motivates one to be bold.
Being nonconforming
It enables one to push boundaries as it forces you to move beyond your comfort zone to make a difference in the world.
The names of the scholarship recipients and their course of study are:
Merika Graham
She is pursuing a Life Sciences degree with a major in Biology for Health Sciences, with a minor in Psychology and Business at the University of Toronto
Harkeerat Bhatia
She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Criminology and Political Science at the University of Toronto.
Devron Swaby
He is pursuing an Honours Life Sciences program with a minor in Biology at the University of McMaster University.
Akaila Wright
She is pursuing a double major in Psychology and Criminology in an Honours Bachelor of Science program at the University of Toronto-Mississauga.
Maya Weekes
She is pursuing a Science Degree and plans to complete an Honours Degree in: Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Behaviour at the University of Toronto.
Gabrielle Forbes-Cultess
Gabi is pursuing a degree in Social Psychology at McMaster University.
Alveena Khan
She is pursuing a degree in Social Science at McMaster University.
Paul Edgemuyiwa
He is enrolled at Seneca College where he is majoring in Computer Engineering.
Anthony McPherson
He is pursuing a degree in Integrated Science with a focus on Data Science at the University of Western Ontario.
Jamelia Parnell
She is pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Queen’s University.
Mariah Gardener
She plans to become a teacher and is pursuing an English degree at York University.
Brittney Darien
She plans to pursue a degree in nursing at Centennial College
Elijah Fearon
He is pursuing an Arts degree, majoring in Political Science with an Honors
Specialization in International Relations at the University of Western Ontario.
Two community awards were given to: Carla Morton and Inspector Andrew Cooper who both have been active as board members in FFAF. Anyone interested in learning about FFAL, or volunteering with them can check the website:www//www.ffafca/