Phone: (604) 359-1809
Foundation Board Members
MHHS Charitable Foundation Background
The MHHS Charitable Foundation is a registered non-profit organization which started its operation in December 2012. It was formed by a group of concerned professionals and entrepreneurs from the Filipino diaspora community who saw the need for a more holistic approach to settlement services.
Through its partnership with the Multicultural Helping House Society, the MHHS Charitable Foundation is able to support new immigrants, migrant women workers (caregivers), youth and seniors through the settlement, counselling and employment assistance services which the Society delivers.
The MHHS Foundation also provides temporary dwelling place to new immigrants, migrant workers in crisis and refugees who have no arranged accommodation in BC.
Since it started its operation, the Foundation has been actively promoting its advocacy for Multiculturalism and Inclusion in Canadian society.
 Benedicto AvendanoPresident │ Email: mhhcfoundation@helpinghouse.org Benedicto, the son of MHHS founder Tomas Avendano, has been actively volunteering for the Society since its inception in 1996. He became a Society board member in 2018 and the Foundation president in 2020. Ben has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of the East in the Philippines, His career includes being in the Philippine Air Force and upon migration to Canada in 1981, got into the supply chain and logistics sector. Ben is an active member of Radio Pinoy of BC and enjoys the company of his family and grandchildren when not volunteering for the Foundation. |
 Paul TevesTreasurer Paul started to volunteer for MHHS in early 2016, contributing his knowledge and skills in Finance and Accounting. Paul played an active role in ensuring that the Multicultural Helping House Charitable Foundation’s (Foundation) bookkeeping and accounting processes are according to the Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. He established MHHCF’s accounting systems that passed the Foundation’s first audited financial statement. Paul completed his certificate in Accounting from BCIT and is a Certified Management Accountant professional. He has experience working in various non-profit organizations including BC Paraplegic Association (now Spinal Cord Injury BC), the Canadian Cancer Society and the healthcare sector. Prior to migrating to Canada, Paul was a licensed Civil Engineer working in corporate planning in the renewable energy sector. |
 Ben BautistaSecretary Ben is an expert in business process re-engineering (BPR), which involves fundamentally rethinking and radically redesigning business processes to achieve significant improvements in critical performance measures. His portfolio includes enhancing and updating the scheduling and documentation processes for the BC Supreme Court, along with providing training across all court locations in British Columbia. Additionally, Ben possesses advanced knowledge in web development and online marketing. |
 Maria GreavesBoard Member Maria Greaves has been in the hearing industry for 30 years. Through her hearing clinic, Surrey Hearing Care, she has helped local communities across the lower mainland and in her home country, the Philippines. Moreover, she has worked extensively with various care facilities and organizations in Canada to bring hearing health to the fore. Maria joined the MHSS to be of service to the Filipino community in Canada. Tatay Tom’s goodwill that built the MHHS served as her inspiration. By joining the MHHS, Maria furthers her commitment to be able to mentor the new immigrants. She considers it a great honour to be a part of the MHHS. |
 Leonardo OcampoBoard Member Leo has been working as a security technician for over a decade in Lower Mainland and an active volunteer of various Filipino organizations, i.e. Radio Pinoy Association of BC, Filipino Canadian Construction Association and the UFCABC. He is a professional electronic and communication technician in the Philippines and have been a professor for 8 years in electronic and communication courses at various technical schools in Region 1 of Luzon, Philippines. Leo worked as a facility technician in the Saudi Arabian, US Marine Corps of Engineers and as production controller at Al Salam Aircraft |