The Canadian Mental Health Association of Sudbury Manitoulin says the organization has returned a donation to a group affiliated with the Freedom Convoy.
Yesterday, Association CEO Patty MacDonald apologized to the public in a press release stating the organization is returning a donation of $462 made earlier in the week that was raised at an anti-mandate protest in Sudbury.
She says they will no longer accept funds from the group that conflicts with the agency’s mission, vision and values of the association and apologizes for any distress the move may have caused.
MacDonald adds the agency is now reviewing its donation process to strengthen decision-making around future donations.
The association provides services throughout the district including a satellite office in Espanola and services throughout the Manitoulin and North Shore corridor.
CMHA-Sudbury/Manitoulin is an agency committed to the health and wellness of our community by promoting public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, explains MacDonald.
“We strive to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work and advocacy for the individuals we serve. To those who’ve been negatively impacted, we’re sorry for any harm we may have caused by accepting the donation,” she says.
“We want our staff, individuals we serve and partners to know that we stand with them. And while we sincerely appreciate financial or in-kind support from the community, we cannot accept donations from groups or people that are drastically misaligned with our beliefs and values.”
She adds any existing fundraising initiatives promoted through any crowdfunding platform are not authorized or endorsed by the association.
