Give

The $100 million Campaign for McLean Hospital was McLean’s first comprehensive philanthropic campaign. Ending early and over goal, more than 6,000 supporters contributed to the campaign. Every gift, large and small, helped the hospital go “Above and Beyond” expectations. Our report on the impact of this effort outlines how it has advanced McLean’s mission of improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Campaign goes above and beyond

Mac Dorris had a vision to create a charity bike ride for mental health, and within a short six months of intensive planning, Mac hosted The Ride for Mental Health—the first of what he hopes will be an annual event to help change how people think about mental illness. He had two immediate goals: to enlist 100 cyclists in the inaugural ride and to raise $100,000 for McLean. He met both!

Ride for mental health

“It felt like I was high on my own brain.” – April

April’s mom recalls that it was sophomore year in college when “things started to fall apart.” By the time her parents arrived at school to take her to the emergency room, April was experiencing a severe first onset of psychosis.

April arrived at McLean for treatment and soon joined McLean OnTrack^TM, a program specializing in the early recognition and treatment of bipolar spectrum disorders and other conditions presenting with psychosis or mania with psychosis.

At OnTrack, both April and her parents felt supported and understood, and things began to improve. Today, April is a peer specialist and has created a supportive community around herself.

“If I am able to help and support others along the way, then that’s what I want to do.”

Watch April’s story

McLean is home to a number of prominent clinicians who provide some of the country’s most specialized care for individuals suffering from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its researchers are leading the scientific front by exploring the environmental, genetic, and neurobiological components of trauma-related disorders. And the hospital has a growing effort to disseminate models of trauma-informed care across the full spectrum of its clinical programs.

Now, a $2.5 million anonymous gift will create opportunities to augment and integrate these efforts, with the goal of making meaningful advances through trauma research, care, and training.

Gift propels trauma research, care, and training to new levels