For over a year, congregants at Grace Church in Northwest Reno have been setting aside money to donate. The church established a fundraising initiative called “For the One” to bolster mental health resources in the region, and on Jan. 27, a signing ceremony was held in Morrill Hall for a gift of $500,000, made to programs and scholarships across the University.
“This gift was the result of a strong collaboration between Pastor Durst and Dr. Kwon,” College of Science Development Director Leigh Fitzpatrick said.
Kwon is a professor and director of clinical training in the clinical psychology program. The community at Grace Church has been fundraising towards For the One since November 2023.
The fundraising focus on mental health was chosen “because the need is real, and the State of Nevada is way behind in addressing these issues,” Pastor Durst said. “We knew God was calling us to lead the way to consider out of the box ideas to help change the odds for those of us who need mental health support. It’s crazy how He’s provided and it’s been a real joy to work with University professionals to find these solutions.”
The College of Science’s graduate program for clinical psychology received $250,000, which will be used to fund externships at local institutions that offer mental health services, such as Renown Rehabilitation Hospital services for individuals recovering from neurological disorders, as well as Northern Nevada HOPES and the Community Health Alliance, which serve individuals who lack the financial resources to pay for care.
“I am extremely grateful that these externships will provide services to underserved populations in our community,” Kwon said. “I am very touched with the warm relationships that I, and other folks at the University, have developed with the pastors at Grace Church. In my opinion, it's a heartwarming demonstration of how the religious community and the secular community can work together in improving well-being.”
“The selflessness of the congregants at Grace Church is admirable and will truly help our students become leaders in the field of clinical psychology and make a difference locally,” College of Science Dean Louisa Hope-Weeks, Ph.D., said.
The Orvis School of Nursing, the School of Social Work and the College of Education and Human Development also received $250,000 to use for educating their students to work in areas supporting mental health.
The College of Education and Human will use this generous donation to support the next generation of mental health professionals. The funding will provide scholarships for eligible students in the counseling master’s degree program.
“We are excited to share in the opportunity to partner with Grace Church and provide quality mental health services to our community,” Dean of the College of Education & Human Development Donald Easton-Brooks, Ph.D., said.
In the School of Social Work, funding will go towards scholarships for graduate students in social work with an interest in mental health.
“We are so moved by Grace Church’s profound generosity. The gifts made by their congregation will allow our students to complete their degrees and launch impactful careers – serving our community,” School of Social Work Dean Lillian Wichinsky, Ph.D., said.
Scholarships will be awarded to students in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program in the Orvis School of Nursing.
“This gift will support eight student scholarships,” Senior Associate Dean and Associate Dean of Graduate Programs Stephanie DeBoor, Ph.D. in the Orvis School of Nursing said. "Alumni of this program will go on to provide compassionate, psychiatric mental health care across the lifespan to people within hospital and clinical settings. They will become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, helping fill a significant shortage in our region."
At a presentation of the funding at Grace Church during services on Jan. 26, the pastors reflected on the community’s generosity.
Fitzpatrick added that one of the things he appreciated the most about the gift was the nature of the church members’ giving.
“Grace Church leaders made it very clear from the beginning that its members were sacrificing to make these gifts possible,” Fitzpatrick said. “But the extent of that sacrifice really only became clear during the services that we were so fortunate to attend on January 26th. What we learned is that members went beyond postponing trips and new vehicles. Many sacrificed immediate needs to bring this blessing to the community. It is only when I heard that that I truly understood what these gifts represent. I will never forget this lesson of humility and radical generosity.”
Some of the church congregants put off major purchases, such as a home.
“One newlywed couple put off purchasing a house for two years so they could give to For the One at a sacrificial level,” Pastor Durst recalled. “The people at Grace are generally very generous. We follow Jesus and it’s how He taught us to live. Also, people are very moved by the external focus For the One has on mental health. We all have seen how mental health struggles have affected people’s lives, especially since COVID. Being able to give to help increase access to care for these people who need help is very rewarding.”
Over the past 15 months, 2,340 households have given to For the One. Grace Church has also partnered with the Empowerment Center and opened For the One Counseling last July.
“On behalf of the entire Wolf Pack Family, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Grace Church for their generous donation to support mental health training and education here at the ÐÔ°®ÎåÉ«Ìì,” University President Brian Sandoval said at the signing ceremony. “Through community partnerships like this, we are able to expand critical offerings that will empower our students to make a positive impact on the well-being of our entire Northern Nevada community. We are honored that Pastor Karen Durst and the members of Grace Church chose the University for this gift, and remain grateful for their commitment to improving mental health in Nevada.”
