May 21, 2023
L-R: Julie Miller, agency executive director at Family Service; Tracy Stachniak, Toyota Material Handling vice president of human resources; Michael Heyden, Family Service president and Toyota Material Handling senior manager
Toyota Material Handling, Columbus, Ind., recently donated $5,000 to Family Service, a nonprofit based in Columbus, in support of Mental Health Awareness Month.
The donation was made through Toyota’s Executive Giving Program, which the company started in 2012 to encourage its leaders to get involved with and give back to a local organization they are passionate about. Toyota says that each year, its senior leaders are allotted between $2,500 and $10,000 to donate to a local nonprofit that is making a difference in the community and that before an executive receives funding for a cause, they are encouraged to contribute to the organization in a meaningful way by donating their time.
Toyota Material Handling’s latest contribution will assist Family Service in providing mental health therapy and abuse prevention education throughout Bartholomew County, Indiana.
“At Toyota, we understand the importance of promoting mental health awareness to fight the stigma, and we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellness of all of our Associates and our fellow neighbors,” said Tracy Stachniak, Toyota Material Handling’s vice president of human resources, who spearheaded the donation. “Our core purpose — the reason we exist — is to contribute to society, and the Executive Giving Program is a great opportunity to do that. We were proud to make this donation to Family Service during Mental Health Awareness Month to help promote education and resources for those who may be struggling. Our hope is that this contribution will have a positive impact on many lives and inspire others us to join us in this important cause.”
The mission of Family Service, founded in 1968, is to improve the mental wellness of the community through prevention, education, treatment and advocacy. The organization says its primary focus has always been family-oriented with programs concentrating heavily on strengthening family functioning.
Family Service says that in 2022, it provided more than 620 individuals with mental health services in the region, including approximately 1,833 free therapy sessions for youth and adults, and that it provides in-person prevention education, reaching over 25,000 individuals last year.
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949, supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness to raise awareness about mental health, educate the public and advocate for policies that support those in the U.S. affected by mental illness.
