Philanthropy News at Bradley Hospital
New Splash Park Brings Joy to Bradley Patients
On a late summer day, Bradley Hospital Foundation Trustees and the Bravo Bradley committee gathered to cut the ribbon on a child’s summer fantasy come true: the Murray Family Foundation Splash Park. The creation of this new facility was made possible thanks to a major grant by the Foundation, matched by funds raised at Bravo Bradley 2022. The 1829 Legacy Fund and Joseph M. Brito, Jr. and Elizabeth G. Brito also contributed significant support.
Situated where a swimming pool had been since the early 1950s, the splash park offers joy to kids spending time in treatment while their schoolmates are enjoying summer vacation. It is also therapeutic. The park offers a safe, controlled setting for kids with sensory processing disorders to work with staff, an additional opportunity for anxious youth to engage in exposure therapy, and a place to practice social emotional learning and life skills with other children.
Murray Family Charitable Foundation President Paula McNamara said, “If there’s anything kids need at this point in our healthcare history, it’s some stress release and a chance to just be kids. This project might be fun, but it’s also a very serious and essential part of recovery, and we are proud to be part of it.” The Murray family has been a long-time supporter of excellence in Rhode Island’s healthcare and takes particular pride in its support of Bradley Hospital—especially amidst the children’s mental health crisis.
Bradley Hospital President Dr. Henry Sachs remarked: “Paula, you and you your family have done a wonderful, wonderful things for kids,” shortly before being the first to experience the cooling waters of the park—suit and all.
The Murray Family Foundation Splash Park was constructed by Pariseault Builders and coordinated by the Lifespan Design Team with the Bradley Hospital Director of Operations and Facilities.
Bradley Hospital CRAFT Program celebrates grand opening of new, expanded playground.
Just in time for summer vacation, the residents of Bradley Hospital’s campus-based Children’s Residential and Family Treatment (CRAFT) Program get to enjoy a long-awaited play area right at their back door. The nearly $400,000 project was funded completely by our philanthropic supporters, and replaces a too-small, well-worn, and impractical playground that really didn’t offer what the children at CRAFT enjoy most – basketball, Four Square, swings, giant chalkboards, and an expansive, soft play surface for running around or playing games like soccer.
The CRAFT Program provides intensive, family-centered residential treatment services to children ages 5 to 12 years who have emotional and behavioral problems that prevent them from living safely at home. Children live together and receive intensive staff supervision and clinical services and engage in the family work that can help them return to their families.
At the grand opening, Bradley Hospital Foundation Board Chair Larry Sadwin noted: “We are not only committed to giving the children in our care the very best treatment available; we are committed to assuring that their experience at Bradley Hospital supports their most positive outcomes. This playground will help assure that their days spent healing aren’t days spent without joy. It makes all the difference.”
Bradley Hospital is deeply grateful to the following donors for making this project possible:
1829 Legacy Fund; Victor and Gussie Baxt Fund; Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation; The Hearst Foundations; Tom and Cathy Lawson; Ida Ballou Littlefield Memorial Trust; Edward J. and Virginia M. Routhier Foundation; Shriners of Rhode Island Charities Trust; and the Yawkey Foundation.
More than $1 Million Raised at Bravo Bradley 2023!
Bradley Hospital raised over $1 million during its signature annual event, Bravo Bradley, held this year on June 9 at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol.
The evening’s intermittent rain did not dampen the spirits nor the generosity of the many attendees who came out to support Bradley, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital devoted exclusively to children and adolescents.
The evening – designed around the theme “Reaching for the Stars” – included dinner, dancing, a speaking program, and live auction in a tented space on Mount Hope Farm’s beautiful waterfront grounds.
In all, this year’s Bravo Bradley, co-chaired by Brenda and David Turchetta, raised $986,330. Of that, about $420,000 benefited a fund-a-need appeal for The Bradley Center, an acute residential treatment program for teens dealing with a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns. A post-auction pledge to The Bradley Center of an additional $50,000 from Tricia O’Neil pushed the evening’s total well over the million-dollar mark.
Donors Carol Peterson, Al and Gerrie Verrecchia, and Dr. Henry Sachs kicked off the fund-a-need appeal with pledges of $25,000 each. They were followed by dozens more generous donations, ranging from $10,000 to $250.
As auctioneer Harry Santa-Olalla concluded the appeal, Joe Brito, Jr. made a surprise announcement of his $100,000 donation in honor of his wife, Betty Brito, who was also in attendance and serves on the Bradley Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees.
The event also featured compelling remarks by Bradley Hospital President Dr. Henry Sachs and a 13-year-old patient speaker, Grant, who spoke about how Bradley Hospital’s evidence-based exposure therapy treatment helped him overcome anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Another highlight of the evening was the live auction, with coveted items including a week-long stay in Antigua; a New England sports package that featured tickets to Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots games; an exciting trip to Napa Valley; and an opportunity to attend a movie premiere in New York City.
Bradley Hospital extends its deepest gratitude to the 2023 Bravo Bradley co-chairs Brenda and David Turchetta and sponsors:
Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation; Susan O. and David A. Brown; Turchetta & Associates; Amica Insurance; Christine and William Carr; Roger and Cynthia Sherman; Betty and Joe Brito, Jr.; Cox Business; Kate Luckett and Steve Pasquariello; NEMD Architects; Carol A. Peterson; Tricia S. O’Neil, CFA, Managing Director, Descendants Wealth Management at Raymond James; and many more.
A Record $1.2 Million Raised During Bravo Bradley!
Bradley Hospital raised a record $1.2 million during its largest annual fundraiser, Bravo Bradley, held on June 24 at the Aquidneck Club in Portsmouth. The hospital’s donor community took its already incredible generosity to a new level at a time when it is needed more than ever – amid the current national pediatric mental health crisis.
“It was amazing to see the community come together like never before in support of our patients and their families,” said Henry Sachs, MD, Bradley Hospital’s president.
Titled “Together Brighter Futures are Possible,” the gala was held in an outdoor tent against a backdrop of colorful décor and sweeping views of Narragansett Bay. It was co-chaired by Kelly and Bernie Lambrese, who warmly welcomed all attendees to “the Bradley family.”
Celebrating 2021 Accomplishments and Looking Ahead to 2022, Annual Meeting Held Virtually
On October 21, the Bradley Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees forwent the much anticipated in-person gathering for their Annual Meeting for the second year in a row. With the ongoing COVID-19 safety concerns around in-person events, in the words of Foundation Chair Larry Sadwin, “It was the right thing to do.” The evening—held live via Zoom webinar—was no less celebratory in its review of the Hospital’s and Foundation Board’s accomplishments over the previous year and was punctuated by the very moving remarks of a Bradley patient.
Ely Pelleccione shared their highly personal story, including moments that would give anyone pause. “But I’m okay,” they said. “I'm not perfect by any means, and I know I'll never be "cured" but [since coming to Bradley] I'm able to deal with things in a much healthier way. I can face life knowing that I've got my issues under control, and I don't need to hide away from the world anymore.” With a smile, they added, “Even if I still do that sometimes, but some things will never change.”
Before presenting the slates for fiscal year 2022, Vice-Chair Carol Peterson was presented with a framed illustration of Bradley Hospital drawn by Francois Luks, MD, pediatric surgeon-in-chief and division chief of pediatric surgery at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, in acknowledgement of her contribution to the now completed Every Child, Every Day Campaign shared with Hasbro. The Officers and Trustees of the Bradley Hospital Foundation were all re-elected to a one-year term, with the exceptions of Jozy Mainelli and Angela Anderson, MD, who both resigned their positions. Ms. Mainelli will continue on as a member of the Lifespan School Solutions (Bradley Schools) board and as a member of the Board of Governors. First time appointees to the Board of Governors are Jennifer (Leigh) Kinder, and Mamie Wakefield.
See a complete list of Bradley Hospital Foundation Trustees and Governors.
We are deeply grateful to all of our Trustees and Governors for their unwavering commitment to the success of the Bradley Hospital Foundation’s mission to support the work of our beloved hospital and look forward to working with such dedicated community leaders for years to come.
Dowling Family Makes Playground Transformation Possible
Summer 2021 offered a bright spot in a challenging 20 months at Bradley Hospital, and it was made brighter by the opening of the beautiful new Dowling Courtyard for the inpatient units.
The transformation of this secure play space has been nothing short of remarkable. A pleasing, colorful, and softer surface has replaced what had previously been referred to as a “dustbowl” or a “mudbowl,” depending on the weather. For years, our facilities team struggled to keep grass growing in this heavily used recreational area. The area was first created when the acuity of our patients wasn’t nearly as high as it is today, and they were more likely able to leave the unit to do their running around in the gym or the lower ballfield area.
The space is enjoyed by kids from the adolescent, children’s, and Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities inpatient units for games, chalk drawing, Wiffle ball, and kickball. It’s also a great spot for yoga, or a one-on-one lunch with a therapist or family member.
Said one inpatient unit staff member, “The cushioned new play surface is so much better that what had become mud and dirt – the kids love it. It also means patients can play more times during the year – they love watching the weather in the courtyard. This time of year the patients are all eagerly awaiting the first snow!”
Due to COVID, and a few supply chain delays along the way, we haven’t yet been able to dedicate the space with the Dowling family and others who made the reimagination of this space possible. In the meantime, the space is enjoyed every day, and we expect we’ll soon see a few snow people out there – without muddy faces.
Grant News from Bradley Hospital
Bradley Hospital has been awarded a grant of $50,000 from the Shriners of Rhode Island Charities Trust to support renovations to the kitchen at Heritage House, the CADD residential program in Warwick.
The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation has awarded a grant of $5,000 to support the revitalization of the CRAFT program’s playground.
The Edward J. and Virginia M. Routhier Foundation has awarded Bradley Hospital a grant of $25,000 to support renovations to the kitchen of Heritage House, which is one of the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities residential programs.
Bradley Hospital has been awarded $19,785 from the Charles Stuart Smith Fund to support renovations to Heritage House’s kitchen.
The Gruben Charitable Foundation has awarded Bradley Hospital a grant of $25,000 to provide trainings in Mental Health First Aid and behavioral health topics for Rhode Island communities.
The Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust has awarded Bradley Hospital $32,000 to refurnish the embedded Bradley School – East Bay Works classrooms at Middletown High School.
Bradley Hospital has been awarded a grant of $20,000 from the Rhode Island Foundation’s Special Medical program to support sensory spaces at the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities residences.
The Emma G. Harris Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, has awarded Bradley Hospital $19,500 to expand vocational learning opportunities through virtual reality technology for high school students at the Bradley School Providence.
The Everett F. Boyden Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee has awarded Bradley Hospital a grant of $11,000 to outfit sensory spaces and active areas for patients in the new Children’s Partial Hospital Program (CPHP) in East Greenwich.
Bradley Hospital is excited to announce that we have received a $75,000 grant from the CVS Health Foundation Hometown Fund to support our work through the Mi Gente Latinx Clinic, which seeks to expand access to outpatient mental health services for Latinx/Hispanic youth. The funds will support a bilingual community health worker to help engage youth and families in culturally-centered evidence-based treatment. The CVS Health Foundation established the Hometown Fund as a way to give back to the communities they call home. It is a $2 million annual commitment to invest in nonprofits that are advancing health equity, addressing social determinants of health, and increasing access to workforce training and education in their home states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and neighboring Massachusetts.
Autism Speaks has awarded Bradley Hospital $3,604 to purchase sensory equipment for kids in the four residential programs in Bradley’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities.
The Healing Arts program has received a grant of $6,595 from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. These funds will help expand healing arts experiences for the many children and adolescents at Bradley Hospital.
The Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund has awarded a matching grant of $50,000 to support the splash pad.
The Hearst Foundations have awarded Bradley Hospital $125,000 to revitalize the Children’s Residential and Family Treatment (CRAFT) program playground.
The Murray Family Charitable Foundation has awarded Bradley Hospital a $400,000 matching grant to support the construction of a therapeutic splash pad at the hospital campus in East Providence.
The Roddy Holden Kintzel Charitable Fund has awarded Bradley Hospital $10,000 to purchase and install a state-of-the-art audiovisual system for the gymnasium on the hospital’s main campus.