The Conrad Prebys Foundation launches a new $5.2 million initiative focused on supporting organizations that utilize arts and nature experiences to enhance mental health. The foundation aims to demonstrate the preventative benefits of creative and natural engagement, moving beyond traditional clinical approaches to well-being.
The Conrad Prebys Foundation is launching a $5.2 million initiative that invests in organizations with proven track records of connecting people to the arts and nature.
The organization, founded in 2020 and powered by the annual gains of a $1 billion investment fund bequeathed by the late Conrad Prebys, the foundation supports a wide range of charitable causes throughout the region, spanning health care, science, the arts and youth, but a new slate of 59 grants to nonprofits across San Diego County is designed to follow where research leads. While this allocation represents only about 10% of the foundation’s total expected annual awards, Grant Oliphant, the organization’s chief executive officer, said that this endeavor seeks to add to the growing pile of evidence that engaging in creative and natural endeavors appreciably improves mental health. At first, the executive said, the plan was to simply contribute to organizations providing clinical care to people diagnosed with mental illnesses. However, the need was so vast that the foundation board began looking for what are often called “upstream” activities, those that could help prevent people from needing clinical help in the first place. “It’s so contrary to the clinical age in which we live, but it’s not surprising because when people are doing art, they’re tapping into their sense of who they are, into a flow state that is demonstrated to produce happiness, and they’re feeling a sense of agency and expression,” Oliphant said. “It turns out to be the same story on the nature side; you know, when people are experiencing nature, they are getting into a different frame of mind, they’re feeling connected with each other and with the larger world.” San Diego County, he added, with its year-round outdoor weather and broad mix of cultures, seemed to be fertile ground for this kind of investment. Grantee organizations engage in an eclectic mix of activities, including playwrighting, horse therapy, hiking, farming, dancing, painting and surfing. Funding amounts range from $10,000 to $150,000 per organization. S&S Friendly Ranch, a 10-acre family farming property in the Tijuana River Valley, landed a $149,500 grant to expand its existing programs, which provide agricultural experiences to kids and adults. Steward Diamand Brandon said the ranch already runs retreats and weekend sessions that teach gardening, cooking, and interaction with a range of livestock from horses to goats. She and fellow steward Frank Buncom IV, both related to the ranch’s original owners, Sim Wallace and Sarah Buncom, plan to use grant funds to expand S&S’s offerings. “We want to open up the space for youth as well as do overnight camps,” Brandon said. “It gives us a little bit of a cushion to dream bigger. “Everybody is looking for a space to heal, to grow, and S&S Ranch has become that space for many people who didn’t even know that it existed.” Oliphant, who was recruited from the Heinz Foundation in Pittsburgh, said work is underway to collect and study the health and wellness of people who participate in grant-funded programs. “We think San Diego could be a model for a different way of approaching the broader wellness challenge that America faces,” Oliphant said. Prebys Healing through Arts Initiative grants have been awarded to the following Art-focused organizations: A Step Beyond, African American Writers & Artists Inc., Art Of Elan, ArtReach, Arts Education Connection San Diego, CCAE Theatricals, Dreams + Ducats, Fern Street Community Arts Inc., Hill Street Country Club, Ilan-Lael Foundation, Imagine, Malashock Dance, Playwrights Project, Project PAINT: The Prison Arts Initiative, Resounding Joy Inc., Rosin Box Project Inc., San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art, San Diego Craft Collective, San Diego Dance Theater, Synergy Arts Foundation, San Diego Urban Warriors, Space 4 Art, The Aja Project, The Veterans Art Project, Timken Museum of Art, Via International Inc., Viet Voices and Villa Musica
Conrad Prebys Foundation Mental Health Arts Therapy Nature Therapy San Diego Grant Funding Wellness Initiatives
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Faith's Foundation: A Call for Religious ValuesThis article argues for the importance of religious faith in shaping individuals and society. It cites historical figures who emphasized the role of religion in government and morality, and laments the decline of religious observance in modern America. The author links societal problems to a weakening of faith and proposes a return to religious teachings as a solution.
Read more »
Mario Lopez Cites Faith as Foundation for Success and Family LifeActor Mario Lopez shares how his faith has been a guiding force throughout his career and family life. He emphasizes the importance of faith-based education for his three children and attributes his success to spiritual growth.
Read more »
Steelers Show Cracks in Foundation with Three Straight LossesThe Pittsburgh Steelers, despite a promising start to the season, have stumbled with three consecutive losses against strong playoff contenders. This recurring pattern of underperformance against top teams has plagued the Steelers since 2019.
Read more »
Jimmy Carter's Military Service: A Foundation for a Life of LeadershipThis article explores the early life and military career of former President Jimmy Carter, highlighting his time in the U.S. Navy and the lasting impact it had on his life and public service.
Read more »
Jimmy Carter's environmental legacy set the foundation for today's climate actionFormer President Jimmy Carter's work on energy efficiency and renewable energy were criticized, but it laid the groundwork for the country to address climate change now.
Read more »
Dallas Historical Society Receives Record-Breaking $7 Million Grant from Bass FoundationThe Dallas Historical Society is set to embark on a new era of digital education thanks to a historic $7 million grant from the Bass Foundation in Dallas. This significant investment, coupled with an additional $1 million-plus from the Moody Foundation, will allow the society to create immersive, technology-based exhibits and expand its educational reach.
Read more »