Catalpa Health launched the Catalpa Foundation May 2 during a community celebration at its Appleton clinic.
The new fundraising arm will help expand critical mental health services for children and teens across Northeast Wisconsin, with a 2025 fundraising goal of $1.8 million.
“Establishing the Catalpa Foundation marks a pivotal moment for our future,” said Kelly Helein, Chair of the Catalpa Foundation Board. “This is about creating a long-term path forward, one that ensures every child in our region has access to the mental health support they need to thrive. We believe the future of our children’s well-being depends on what we do today.”
The foundation will fuel the expansion of pediatric mental health services based on the greatest needs, such as same-day urgent care services for children and teens in crisis; wraparound support and care coordination for families; workforce development for mental health professionals, including fellowships and training; and Catalpa Cares, a safety net fund that helps families who cannot afford care.
Amanda Charais was introduced as the Foundation’s first Executive Director.
“I’m honored and humbled to step into this role,” said Charais. “This work is personal to me, as a mom, as a community member, and as someone who believes deeply in the power of mental health care to change lives. Behind every statistic is a child, someone’s whole world, and they deserve every chance to flourish.”
Catalpa Health was founded in 2012 through a visionary partnership between Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, and ThedaCare to address a youth mental health crisis. Since then, Catalpa has served more than 100,000 children and teens, growing from 32 to over 150 staff members.
The foundation’s early momentum has been made possible by a group of Foundation Sustaining Donors, including the J.J. Keller Foundation, Community First Credit Union, Bergstrom, Invest in Her Foundation, Miron Construction, Plexus, Nicolet Bank, Dave Vander Zanden, Marne and Alec Krikava, and the Jack and Ethel Keller Family. Matching gifts are being supported by the Les and Dar Stumpf Family Fund and the Harley and Cody Splitt Charitable Fund.
For more information, visit CatalpaHealth.org/giving.
