Staunton Farm Foundation announced its latest round of grants on World Mental Health Day last week. The timing was just happenstance, though, as the Pittsburgh-based organization has been dedicated year-round to helping people who live with mental illness and/or substance use disorders for nearly a century.
In this second round of funding, it awarded 19 grants totaling nearly $1.2 million to agencies and organizations throughout Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Westmoreland and Washington counties. The awards included four new organizations among those who previously received funds: Chabad House on Campus Inc., Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg, and The Education Partnership.
Established as a family foundation in 1937, Staunton Farm Foundation exists thanks to Matilda Staunton Craig, known as Aunt Daisie, who wanted her estate to be used to benefit people with mental illness. Following the direction set in her will and in response to current needs, Staunton Farm Foundation trustees make grants to support treatment, services and systems improvements for children, youth and adults with behavioral health issues, according to the foundation website.
Because of the limited number of behavioral health organizations in the 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties eligible for the grants, Staunton Farms Foundation regularly has repeat applicants for grants. For example, the news release stated that Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens will expand its mental health services by creating a designated therapeutic space — including therapy rooms, an art therapy studio, and a multipurpose therapy room for modalities such as play and music therapy — for both youth at the De’Avry A. Thomas Community Center and the broader community. It is based in Penn Hills.
Informational materials on the grants highlighted three repeat organizations. JCC of Greater Pittsburgh’s 10.27 Healing Partnership will collaborate with LIGHT Education Initiative to elevate the voices of families and survivors of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting by working with schools and organizations to present lived experiences that build empathy and understanding of modern-day antisemitism. The Jewish Family & Community Services’ UpStreet program, which opened its first physical location last year and saw 90% of nearly 200 teens and families return for drop-in support, will formalize its practices, strengthen its operation model and develop a sustainability strategy. The Monroeville Public Library will build on the previous year’s achievements by expanding its Mental Health & Wellness programming to more target audiences, extend the program to additional locations, and create more offerings such as grief support, therapy sessions, mindfulness classes.
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