Historic $25k Grant To Expand Family Mental Health Services In Marin County

GREENBRAE, CA — Marin Charitable awarded the inaugural Wilhelm Grant to the Community Institute for Psychotherapy in June, providing $25,000 to launch a new family-focused mental health initiative aimed at supporting children and caregivers through counseling and trauma-informed care.

The grant marked the largest single gift in Marin Charitable's 65-year history and was expected to fund approximately 555 hours of therapy for nearly 30 families, averaging about 18.5 sessions per family.

The new program was designed to provide whole-family support through counseling, assessments, communication coaching, trauma-informed treatment and other services intended to strengthen family relationships and promote healing.

The investment came as youth mental health concerns remained a growing issue in Marin County.

According to a recent youth-led survey conducted through Marin County's AIM Ideas Lab, nearly 90 percent of local teens reported anxiety among their peers, while more than 86 percent reported experiencing high levels of stress or burnout.

"Mental health experts increasingly recognize that when families receive support together, outcomes for youth improve significantly," said Dawn Shalhoup, executive director of Marin Charitable. "We were honored to partner with CIP in this deeply important work and to support an initiative that we believed would create a lasting ripple effect throughout our community."

Founded in 1977, CIP has provided low-cost mental health services to Marin County residents for nearly five decades, offering therapy, professional training and community-based support programs.

"On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, trainees, and the children and families we serve, we were deeply grateful to Marin Charitable for recognizing the urgent need for low-fee child and family therapy and for supporting this important work," said Robin Joy Berenson, executive director of CIP.

Berenson said the grant would help families better understand children's needs, heal from trauma, improve communication, strengthen trust and attachment, and support parents and caregivers facing challenges at home.

"Healing within a child and family system has a profound ripple effect that extends outward into schools, workplaces, friendships, neighborhoods, and the broader community," Berenson said. "We applauded Marin Charitable for recognizing this need and for investing in the mental health and wellbeing of children and families in our community."

The Wilhelm Grant was funded through a bequest from John Wilhelm, whose philanthropic legacy inspired the creation of the new initiative. Marin Charitable leaders said his commitment to community-focused giving aligned closely with CIP's long-standing work in Marin County.

"As we celebrated 65 years of supporting Marin's children, we were proud to launch the Wilhelm Grant with a project that addressed one of the most pressing needs facing families today," said Sherene Chen, president of the Marin Charitable Board of Directors. "This investment reflected our belief that when children and caregivers heal, learn and grow together, the benefits extend far beyond the family and strengthen our entire community."

Marin Charitable said it planned to recognize the partnership throughout its 65th anniversary year and at its annual Fall Ball fundraiser scheduled for Oct. 24.

Marin Charitable is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that raises funds through community events and provides grants to programs serving school-aged children throughout Marin County.