Megan Thee Stallion’s $550 grant helped teen launch mental health nonprofit; project has delivered 3,300 boxes

A $550 grant helped a 12-year-old girl turn her own mental health struggles into a project that has since reached thousands of others. Mila Henry launched MH Boxes in January 2024 after receiving a microgrant through the #BlackGirlJoyChallenge, an initiative backed by rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s Pete & Thomas Foundation and the Southern Black Girls & Women’s Consortium. What began as a small effort to support Black girls facing mental health challenges has grown into a nonprofit that now reports delivering 3,303 care packages across 17 states and Washington, DC, according to its official website.The boxes contain journals, fidget toys, affirmations and other self-care tools designed to help Black girls feel supported and encourage conversations about mental health. The project draws on Mila’s own experiences and her belief that young people facing emotional difficulties should have access to resources that recognise their needs and make them feel less alone. The initiative also highlights how relatively small grants can help young people turn personal experiences into community-led projects.How a personal struggle inspired MH BoxesMila came up with the idea after experienc...