For many of us, childhood is a time filled with memories of carefree days developing friendships on the playground, celebrating a victory with teammates or testing the boundaries of our neighborhood. For others, life paints a different picture. Struggles with mental health can often feel overwhelming, crippling to the point of robbing our youth of a time that should be one of the happiest in their lives.
To help all children thrive, Dayton Children’s embarked on a groundbreaking $400 million investment in 2019 to elevate mental health through its Do. More. so all kids can thrive campaign. The hospital aims to provide more services and tools to manage mental health, advance care through personalized treatments, carry out innovative clinical research and more. The campaign is working to raise $75 million, with $65 million secured to date.
Randy Gunlock, representing his family’s foundation, Greener Pastures Foundation at The Dayton Foundation, announced their $3 million investment to Dayton Children’s last November.
In a bold step toward addressing the growing mental health crisis in the Greater Dayton region, local real estate developer Randy Gunlock and his family’s foundation, known as the Greener Pastures Foundation at The Dayton Foundation, announced last fall the awarding of a $3 million unrestricted grant to Dayton Children’s in support of mental health and wellness.
“Investing in the mental well-being of our region’s youth is an investment in the future of our collective community.”
– Randy Gunlock, founder of RG Properties and Dayton Foundation donor
“Investing in the mental well-being of our region’s youth is an investment in the future of our collective community,” said Randy, founder of RG Properties. This real estate development company has developed over 10 million square feet of retail space in the Midwest. “For decades, Americans have emphasized the importance of caring for our physical health, but our mental health is just as vital to our overall quality of life.”
According to Dayton Children’s, one out of five families in the region needs help in addressing a mental health problem with a child. Still, as many as 80 percent of these children will go untreated due to a shortage of services and the stigma associated with mental illness. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide was Ohio’s second leading cause of death among children aged 10 to 14.
“Many children and teenagers avoid seeking mental health support due to feelings of shame, fear of judgment and a deep sense of isolation. They often struggle in silence rather than risk stigma,” said Kelly Blankenship, MD, associate chief medical officer for Behavioral Health at Dayton Children’s. “It’s crucial that we create an environment where they feel safe, supported and heard.”
Randy has long been concerned about the escalating mental health challenges facing children, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. He decided to make his investment in Dayton Children’s after being inspired by the Mathile Family Foundation’s donation last September to support The Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness. This state-of-the-art mental health facility, located on Dayton Children’s Valley Street main campus, is a focal point of the campaign and is scheduled to open this July.
“We’ve been working for 13 years now, adding services, plugging holes. And still, there are gaps,” said Debbie Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton Children’s. “The services that we will be able to provide in this building, along with additional community-based therapy services, will go a long way to help bridge those gaps.”
Support from the Gunlock family, as well as other private, foundation and corporate funders, will help Dayton Children’s provide a full continuum of mental health services. From preventive and early intervention programs to increased inpatient mental health beds, Dayton Children’s is working to ensure that children receive the care necessary for their well-being and success.
“The Gunlock family has been very fortunate in our lives and careers, and we believe giving back to help others is our responsibility for the blessings we’ve received,” Randy said. “Thanks to Debbie Feldman’s leadership, Dayton Children’s has flourished. We’ve gotten to know Debbie, not only through the hospital but also at the county level, and it’s thanks to her complete understanding of mental health issues and developing the steps to help address this regional issue that made the Greener Pastures Foundation want to invest in solutions.
“We’re so grateful to be able to make this financial investment for our region’s children and help promote understanding, compassion and access to care for individuals facing mental health challenges,” Randy continued. “We hope this will inspire others in our region to consider investing as well. Children are our future.”
To learn more about the Do. More. campaign or to donate, visit childrensdaytongive.org/do-more-campaign.