Washburn Center for Children selected for transformational $1M gift to support safety-net mental health care for children.
MINNEAPOLIS – November 29, 2023 – Washburn Center for Children, one of Minnesota’s leading children’s mental health providers, welcomes profound investment of $1 million from the Edward R. Bazinet Charitable Foundation.
This generous gift is the latest in a 30-year partnership by the Bazinet Foundation as it continues to build on its commitment to impact the lives and futures of Minnesota’s youth and families.
“This transformational gift clearly demonstrates leadership and a deep commitment to kids in our community,” says Craig Warren, Chief Executive Officer for Washburn Center for Children. “The family’s generosity is a beacon of hope and signals to others the critical investment that’s required to ensure equitable outcomes for all people and eliminate barriers to accessing mental health care.”
The Bazinet family’s generous, long-time support of Washburn Center has been indispensable in expanding the capacity to care for children. In fact, the family provided a foundational lead gift in the capital campaign that built the nonprofit’s main campus on Glenwood Avenue in 2014.
The Bazinet Foundation is administered by the Minneapolis Foundation, which has advised the family on its philanthropy for more than 30 years. “The Bazinet family stands out not only for their generosity, but also for their track record of transformative gifts to our community, and for their willingness to blaze trails,” says Philanthropic Advisor Bill Sternberg of the Minneapolis Foundation. “When they make a major investment like this one, you know they have done their homework on both the cause and the organization they are supporting.”
The Bazinet Foundation is helping Washburn Center meet the skyrocketing need
What was a crisis prior to the pandemic continues to trend unfavorably as demand skyrockets, a growing number of families face financial insecurity, increases in the severity and complexity of client needs, and a critical shortage of therapists. As families emerge from the pandemic, their children’s mental health issues are more frequent, severe, and complex.
“Investments, like this one from the Bazinet family, are critical to strategically approaching the rapidly growing crisis in children’s mental health care,” Warren says. “This steadfast commitment to our mission of providing transformative mental health care is what makes healing possible for children and their families. Our hope is that this gift will inspire others to give.
“Each of our philanthropic partners are vital to the investments in recruiting, retaining, and developing our staff, especially considering that 60% of our revenue comes from insurance reimbursement rates that have remained flat as operating expenses rise,” Warren adds.
Washburn Center leads in child-centered care with the broadest and deepest spectrum of outpatient children’s mental health services in the state. Washburn’s 180 therapists serve nearly 4,000 children and their families in homes, schools, clinics and community settings helping translate skills and healing to the environment where they live, learn and are in relationships.
Warren reflects that clients continue to report life-changing outcomes in their work with Washburn Center’s team. This gift along with the generosity of all supporters will boost how the community-based agency can expand its mission to nurture every child and family’s well-being and full potential through transformative children’s mental healthcare.
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CONTACT
Julie Carver
Washburn Center for Children
Julie.carver@washburn.org
612-597-0934
About Washburn Center for Children
Washburn Center for Children leads in child-centered care with the broadest and deepest spectrum of outpatient children’s mental health services in Minnesota. With one of the largest teams of children’s mental health therapists, its community-based model is strengthened by families and children served and grounded by impact that reaches to family networks, neighborhoods, schools and communities. Washburn Center is also a leader in training mental health professionals in trauma-informed, evidence-based care. Visit http://www.washburn.org for more information.
About The Edward R. Bazinet Charitable Foundation
The Edward R. Bazinet Charitable Foundation was established in 1993 to work toward an improved future for the people of Minnesota through a focus on education, arts and culture, the environment and the health and well-being of children and families.
About the Minneapolis Foundation
The Minneapolis Foundation drives collective action to realize strong, vibrant communities. The Foundation cultivates generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs—partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a difference in their communities. www.minneapolisfoundation.org
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