Fort Lauderdale, FL. March 17, 2021 – At a time when both the need and demand for quality mental healthcare has never been greater, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation has committed $3,000,000 to Florida-based Henderson Behavioral Health to support the organization’s Growing Strong Campaign. The gift has been directed specifically to support the development of a new state-of-the-art Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and a Centralized Receiving Facility (CRF) on the Henderson Behavioral Health Central Broward Campus. The announcement was made by Pulte Family Foundation board member and Pulte Homes Founder William J. Pulte’s daughter, Nancy Pulte Rickard.
“Our family, like so many other families, has been impacted by mental illness,” said Rickard. “My father would have been extremely proud of the decision that was made by the Pulte Family Foundation Board to make this gift.”
William Pulte, who passed away in March of 2018 at the age of 85, was a quiet giver. Except for the many Pulte Group (PHM-NYSE) buildings that bear his name across the country today, it wasn’t until the last two years of his life that he allowed his parish to name its multi-purpose center the Pulte Family Life Center. He always preferred to be a silent donor.
“After much discussion, our Pulte Family Foundation Board, which is made up entirely of family members, made the unanimous decision to lend the Pulte Family name to the Henderson Behavioral Health Campus for several reasons,” said Rickard. “Our father created tremendous goodwill through the business he founded and grew into a Fortune 500 company. His name means something to so many. We hope that through the Pulte name, the Foundation can be a catalyst to, through and for others, who want to help break the stigma of mental illness by shining a light on the topic. The Foundation is committed to giving back nationwide to communities that have supported Pulte Homes over the last sixty-plus years. We are supporting Bill’s legacy. And, we are honoring all who are suffering, or have suffered, from mental illness.
The Pulte gift is supporting the $14 million expansion of Henderson Behavioral Health on the Pulte Family Foundation Campus (The name is still being finalized). It is helping to fund the cost of the relocation of the former CSU to the new state-of-the-art facility that has a higher capacity and will offer an evidence-based therapeutic environment that is much more accessible to the community. The number of beds has increased from 23 to 48 and the facility can be licensed to serve both adults and children.
Since 2000, Henderson Behavioral Health has provided short-term, intensive treatment and stabilization in an inpatient setting-24 hours a day-7 days a week and has offered more than 50 behavioral health programs in every age group, from infants to older adults. It is imperative that Henderson Behavioral Health continues to expand resources to meet South Florida’s fast-growing demand for its services.
The expansion project has been completed.
About Pulte Family Foundation
Guided by the belief in the inherent dignity of all persons, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation works to meet the basic human needs of the most marginalized members of the human family, including socioeconomically disadvantaged youth; the aged; persons with physical, emotional, and mental disabilities; and those with the fewest material resources. In addition to the above, the Foundation seeks to serve religious communities and correlative organizations of Judea-Christian beliefs. To this end, the Foundation strives to enact through its grantees the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; care for captives; shelter the homeless; visit the sick, and assist the mourning. For information about the Pulte Family Foundation, please contact Mark Winter at 248-568-8334 or mwinter@identitypr.com
About Henderson Behavioral Health
Established in 1953, Henderson Behavioral Health provides healthcare, housing, and hope for over 30,000 persons of all ages with behavioral health conditions in Florida each year. Through care, supported employment, advocacy, and housing, Henderson Behavioral Health assists and inspires people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders to reclaim their lives. Henderson is one of the oldest, largest, and most successful providers of recovery services for persons with co-occurring disorders in Florida. We utilize state of the art research and evidence-based practices, combined with a wide range of supports to treat the whole person, rather than just the illness. Individuals served by Henderson Behavioral Health are all unique; they come from vastly different backgrounds and arrive with different needs, talents, and hopes. As such, a variety of services are at their full disposal, be it access to medical care and psychiatric treatment, job readiness and work placement, educational opportunities, or a safe and stable place to live. Henderson Behavioral Health believes everyone contributes to society and should have the opportunity to live a life of value, self-respect, compassion, and dignity. For information about Henderson Behavioral Health, please contact Suzanne Higgins at 954-777-1624 or shiggins@hendersonbh.org
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