The following is a press release issued by Franciscan Children’s.
Transformational gift will help build a new facility to expand capacity, care, and treatment for young people facing mental health issues
(Brighton, MA) June 2, 2021. At a time of a mental health crisis in the United States, especially among our young people, Franciscan Children’s is excited to announce it has received a transformational gift of $5 million dollars from the Yawkey Foundation for its new mental health center. This gift will enable Franciscan Children’s to serve hundreds of additional patients annually.
Franciscan Children’s is recognized as a leader in pediatric mental health services and offers expert crisis stabilization, assessment and inpatient mental health treatment in a safe and nurturing environment to children throughout New England.
The new building will be named The Yawkey Center at Franciscan Children’s, in honor of the Foundation’s founders, Tom Yawkey and Jean Yawkey, whose legacy of giving often focused on helping children.
“Right now, there is there is a widely recognized shortage of inpatient pediatric beds for children in psychiatric crisis, and that shortage has been further exacerbated by the increased mental health issues that are emerging as a result of the COVID pandemic,” said John D. Nash, CEO of Franciscan Children’s. “Our current inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities were constructed over 60 years ago and are outdated and inadequate for the needs of the diverse population of children and adolescents we serve. We are so grateful to the Yawkey Foundation for this generous donation that will help us to help children in need.”
The new 45,000 square foot facility will be built on the site of the former convent for the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on the hospital’s campus in Brighton. It will have 42 inpatient psychiatric beds and will allow Franciscan Children’s to serve hundreds of additional patients annually.
The Yawkey Center at Franciscan Children’s will include a gymnasium, a mix of private and shared rooms, classrooms with the latest technology and programmatic support spaces. Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
“Throughout their lives, and then through their charitable foundations, Tom and Jean Yawkey provided significant support to numerous hospitals for over 80 years, as well as steadfast and generous support of programs in Boston, Massachusetts and Georgetown, SC that address the needs of children with emotional and behavioral health issues,” said Maureen H. Bleday, CEO of the Yawkey Foundation. “Franciscan Children’s is a place of hope and healing for children in psychiatric crisis, and this project is consistent with the charitable goals that guided the Yawkeys during their lifetimes and which the Trustees of the Foundation continue to honor in their memory.”
The Yawkey Center at Franciscan’s is part of Franciscan Children’s Growing Stronger capital campaign.
About Franciscan Children’s
Located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston and founded in 1949, Franciscan Children’s provides a compassionate and positive environment where children with complex medical, mental health and educational needs receive specialized care from people who are committed to excellence, innovation and family support, so that children can reach their fullest potential and live their best life. For more information, visit FranciscanChildrens.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter at @FranciscanHFC and Instagram at @franciscanchildrens.
About the Yawkey Foundation
The Yawkey Foundation is dedicated to perpetuating the philanthropic legacy of Tom and Jean Yawkey, whose eight decades of quiet generosity supported individuals and families in the communities that were closest to their hearts – Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina. Having awarded more than $500 million to-date in charitable grants to organizations focused on Health Care, Education, Human Services, Youth and Amateur Athletics, Arts and Culture, and Conservation and Wildlife, Yawkey Foundation is committed to preserving and sustaining the charitable values of the Yawkeys by investing in impactful nonprofits providing resources, opportunity, and dignity to the vulnerable and underserved. For more information, please visit www.yawkeyfoundation.org.