Vail Health Foundation launches behavioral health fundraising campaign

Eagle Valley Behavioral Health (EVBH), an outreach of Vail Health, has partnered with Vail Health Foundation to launch a $100 million, multi-year campaign to transform the Eagle Valley’s behavioral health system and landscape. EVBH was established to lead a community collaborative that will ensure access to world-class behavioral health services for everyone in the Eagle River Valley.

Led by Vail Health Foundation, this ambitious campaign will include the efforts of multiple organizations across the valley to raise much-needed funds for provider access and capacity, prevention and education, crisis response and transition services, and school-based services. The announcement was made at the Foundation’s annual Winter Celebration on December 28.

Jay Precourt and Amanda Precourt have made a $15-million lead gift to the EVBH fundraising campaign. In appreciation of the generous gift, the future Cross-Functional Behavioral Health Facility, which will be located mid-valley, will be named in their honor.

“We are moved by the generosity of Jay and Amanda and are thankful for their continued support. Their leadership and personal commitment to this important initiative set a tremendous example for the rest of our community,” said Dan Pennington, Vail Health Foundation president.

“I know firsthand how the lack of access to mental health services can have a devastating effect on an individual,” says Amanda Precourt, who serves on the Eagle Valley Behavioral Health Board. “This is such an important issue to me and my family. We hope our contribution will inspire others to join this campaign and help make a lifesaving difference for others in our valley.”

The It Takes A Valley campaign will support multiple organizations and programs across the Eagle River valley, including Bright Future Foundation, Hope Center, Mountain Youth, Neighborhood Navigators, Speak Up Reach Out, Early Childhood Partners, Hearts Reign, My Future Pathways, and Eagle Valley Community Foundation to fund MIRA (Mobile Intercultural Resource Alliance).

Other early gifts to the campaign include:

• Doe Browning, a member of the Vail Health Foundation & Bright Future Foundation Boards, has pledged the lead donation of $1 million to launch the Bright Future Foundation’s $3.4 million capital campaign to build a new home for families fleeing domestic violence in Eagle County.
• The Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust has committed $525,000 to support behavioral health initiatives and organizations, including four sub-grants to The Eagle Hope Center, Eagle County Paramedics, Mountain Family Health Services, Eagle County Public Health Department, and a voucher program to increase access for those in need.
• Local first responders were among the first to donate to EVBH when they launched their “First to Respond, First to Give” fundraising campaign in September. The campaign has a 100 percent participation goal.

“To see so many community members from so many different backgrounds step up and donate is amazing,” said EVBH Executive Director Chris Lindley. “It is going to take the entire valley to transform the behavioral health landscape, and it is going to take the generosity of the valley to reach our ambitious fundraising goal of $100 million.” 

To be part of It Takes A Valley: Transforming Behavioral Health, visit the campaign website at ItTakesAValley.org.