New Mental Health Foundation HQ lends more visibility to nonprofit mission

With a public storefront and lounge area to compliment its open plan office space in back, leaders of The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan hope their new 359 Division S. headquarters can help bring more physical visibility to an organization whose programming is already part of so many schools and communities throughout West Michigan. 

“Our services reach a majority of counties in West Michigan, but most times, people don’t realize our office is right in downtown Grand Rapids,” says Jessica Jones, promotion program coordinator with The MHF. “We’re happy we were able to keep our headquarters in the Heartside Neighborhood so we can be close to the people we educate and continue to expand throughout Kent County.” 

With an all-female team of five full-time employees, and two part-time staff, The Mental Health Foundation helps to create mental health awareness and provides mental health education within schools, workplaces, and communities through its “be nice.” and “Live Laugh Love - Education Youth about Mental Health” programs. Both programs are created and taught by The MHF staff. 

At 1,600 total square feet, the new MHF headquarters include a public lounge area and storefront—decorated with cozy fuchsia armchairs and merchandise area with a large armoire for it’s “be nice.” products in the front. 

With a table lamp and slippers placed next to each staff member's desk, the rear of the building is designated office space, but the open floor plan allows for visibility from front to back. Jones says Via Design donated their services for the interior design, while Herman Miller also awarded The MHF $5,000 for new office furniture.

The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan’s new shop front is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about The MHF or its programming, visit www.benice.org or find them here on Facebook. 

“As we continue to grow, we think our visibility in the community is important,” Jones says. “Our old office was a little hard to find and our new location includes a shop front. Our mission is to be the go-to source for mental health awareness and education, and better visibility within the community will help us with that goal.”

Written by Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of The Mental Health Foundation