Our Story

Founded in 2023 by Amanda (Mandy) Hirvi, The Manasa Foundation was created in response to the deep cracks within our mental health, trauma, and addiction care systems. As both a lived experience peer and a current frontline worker in the mental health sector, Amanda witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of inaccessible, fragmented, and profit-driven services. Her experiences - both personal and professional - became the blueprint for something radically different. 

Today, The Manasa Foundation exists to bridge the “missing middle”: the critical gap between overstretched public services and high-cost private care. 

We serve people living with complex trauma  and mental health challenges - meeting them where they are and walking alongside them as they recover & rebuild.

Our model is bold: wraparound, community-led, and trauma-informed. We’re building a scalable, w(h)olistic approach to mental health care that prioritizes dignity, choice, and real-world outcomes.

But as a startup charity, our journey is not without challenge. 

We are raising capital and building traction in a sector that desperately needs change—yet often resists it. Innovation is celebrated in theory, but rarely funded in practice. That’s why we’re calling on aligned partners - corporate leaders, philanthropic investors, and changemakers - who believe in backing impact over optics.

As a DGR-1 endorsed social enterprise, we offer partners a unique opportunity to be part of something more than charity—we’re building a movement. One that’s survivor-led, research-informed, and relentlessly focused on long-term transformation.

To pioneer a new standard of mental health, trauma, and addiction care - one that is accessible, community-rooted, and grounded in humanity, not hierarchy.

A world where w(h)olistic, person-centered mental health support is not a privilege - but a right. Where systems serve people, not the other way around.

• Balanced Compassion – Caring for others starts with caring for ourselves. Building an environment where our team that is thriving - not just surviving.
   
• Inclusivity – We create safe spaces where all voices are welcomed.
   
• Innovation –  We lead from the front with curiosity, courage, and unwavering clarity.
   
• Community – We rise by lifting others—together.
   
• Individuality – Every person’s unique journey matters and is valued. Every voice counts.
   

Whether you’re a corporate partner ready to invest in mental health innovation, a local business seeking to give back, or a community member looking for support—your journey with us starts here.

Partner with us to rebuild what was never safe to begin with—and help change the future, one life at a time.