The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2018 by Taraji P. Henson and led by Executive Director, Tracie Jade Jenkins. The foundation is named in honor of Ms. Henson’s father, Boris Lawrence Henson, who suffered from mental health challenges as a result of his tour of duty in the Vietnam War. They are committed to changing the perception of mental illness in the African American community by encouraging those who suffer from this debilitating illness to get the help they need. Through their partnerships, the foundation will ensure cultural competence in caring for African Americans who struggle with mental illness by providing scholarships to African-American students who seek a career in the mental health field; offering free mental health services to adults; offering free mental health programs to young people in urban schools; and combat recidivism within the prison system.