Rotary Boosts Red Door Fund for Mental Health
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The Red Door Fund received a $1,000 grant in February from the La Grange Rotary Club. From left are Don Jones; Fayette Community Foundation leaders Ashleigh Parks, Susanna Mikulin and Cheryl Pekar; Rotary president-elect Hannah Janda and Rotary past president Mike Coppinger.
People suffering with mental illness need safe places, places where they feel secure, welcome and not alone. Red doors signify just such places, says Cheryl Pekar, vice president for public initiatives with the Fayette Community Foundation.
All over the area, signs saying “Red Door” have appeared during February, publicizing not only the need for mental health services, but also that Fayette County is a place that offers such “safe places.”
Fayette Community Foundation began the Red Door Fund for Mental Health in 2021 and has made numerous grants from the fund to various groups serving local mental health needs.
Specifically, the fund supports awareness and education efforts and supports mental health services and providers.
This year, a $25,000 matching grant has been made to the Fayette Community Foundation. For every dollar donated to the fund through the FCF, another dollar is added from the matching grant.
In February, the La Grange Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the Red Door fund, effectively providing $2,000 for mental health work in the county. Mental health is one of Rotary International’s specific areas of emphasis this year, according to Kyle Hartmann, club president.
“The vision of the Red Door Fund for Mental Health is for those struggling with mental illness and their loved ones in this rural region to not only have access to the resources they need and be able to navigate those resources, but also be able to turn to any person for support and feel accepted, understood, and unashamed,” Pekar said.
Others interested in supporting the Red Door project can contact the FCF at faycofoundation. com or call (979) 797-2180.