Oakland, CA – Well Being Trust (WBT), a new foundation focused on innovation and improvement of mental health and well-being in the United States, is growing its staff, and making additional 2017 investments to deliver impact. Five new leaders have recently been added to the team, collectively bringing a wealth of experience in clinical transformation, engaged philanthropy, organizational excellence, and strategic development.
Staff members recently joining the Trust include Grainger Marburg, Ed.M, as Chief Operating Officer, with 25 years of experience in philanthropy, management and education; Janaya L. Nichols, MSc as Senior Program Manager, who was previously a Program Officer for First 5 LA; Gabriela Robles, MBA as Senior Advisor, who also retains her current position as CEO of St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund; Robin Henderson, PsyD as Clinical Liaison with Providence St Joseph Health, who also serves as Chief Executive, Behavioral Health at PSJH Oregon; and Erica Teece-Hodges, Senior Executive Assistant and Office Manager.
These leaders join the initial Well Being Trust team of Anne Schonfield, Senior Advisor for impact philanthropy; Arpan Waghray, M.D., Chief Medical Officer; Benjamin F. Miller, PsyD, Chief Policy Officer; Deborah Gatiss, Integrated Communications Manager; Hannah Egland, Administrative Manager and Assistant to the CEO, Mary Renouf-Hanson, MBA Executive Director of Integrated Communications; and Tyler Norris, MDiv, Chief Executive Officer.
“Our early investments and partnerships are well targeted to help transform mental health and well-being across the nation. As we build out our team, we are even better positioned to advance policy reform, integrate and transform care delivery, and improve the community conditions that shape well-being, ” says Tyler Norris, CEO of Well Being Trust.
Well Being Trust, now in its tenth month, has already invested over $15 million in grants, initiatives and partnerships focusing on issues including increasing affordable access to quality care for those with mental health and addiction issues; shaping healthier public policy; advancing private sector investment in prevention and treatment; and addressing upstream community issues ranging from toxic stress to affordable housing with supportive services. Initial grants and partnerships include a clinical collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement; a policy partnership with Trust for America’s Health; partnerships with iHeart media, Complex, and Buzzfeed to normalize having conversations about mental health and well-being; and the first round of $30 million in grants over three years to the California Mental Health and Wellness Initiative.
Well Being Trust has built an initial portfolio of grants and partnerships to meet its goals of: easing access to quality affordable care; building resilience in children, teens, and families; reducing suffering from mental health; decreasing addiction and substance abuse while promoting recovery; creating hope for people with serious and persistent mental illness; and reducing stigma everywhere while growing a culture of well-being in healthy, equitable, resilient communities.
“I am excited to join Well Being Trust because it embraces the role that foundations can play in advancing policy and community-driven solutions for health and well-being. I am particularly interested to see how Well Being Trust helps accelerate integrated care both in our delivery settings and in our communities,” says Robin Henderson. “I look forward to helping the organization in making a lasting impact on the comprehensive health needs of the communities we serve.”
About Well Being Trust
Founded in 2016, Well Being Trust is a national foundation dedicated to advancing the mental, social and spiritual health of the nation. Created to include participation from organizations across sectors and perspectives, Well Being Trust is committed to innovating and addressing the most critical mental health challenges facing America, and transforming individual and community well-being. www.wellbeingtrust.org
Media Contact:
Amy Shields
Director of Communications
214-208-7942
amy@wellbeingtrust.org
