Davenport Fund Challenge Raises $1.25 Million For Salem Hospital

SALEM, MA — The ongoing Davenport Fund Challenge has led to $1.25 million in donations to Salem Hospital with the goal of raising another $1.25 million as part of hospital trustee Mike Davenport's matching donation.

Last fall, Davenport offered to match 150 percent of all donations up to $1 million — which would be a $2.5 million donation overall — to go toward behavioral health treatments.

"Our family is pleased to support this area of critical need and now we need the community's help to get our fundraising across the finish line," said Mike Davenport, who helps direct charitable gifts from the Davenport Fund, and who served as a Salem Hospital trustee from 1970-1991.

“With the enduring and widespread toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioral health needs have become colossal. Salem Hospital has developed a wide range of innovative programs for patients facing mental health challenges and is quickly becoming one of the leading community hospitals in behavioral health services in the United States."

Salem Hospital said the initial response to the challenge has been "exceptional" with the hospital receiving gifts from $100 to $350,000.

The community response to the ‘Davenport Fund Challenge’ continues to be exceptional. The hospital has received numerous gifts, ranging from $100 to $350,000, in support of the campaign.

"Our hospital community has a history of loyal support that stretches back more than a century. We are thrilled, but not surprised, by this outpouring of community investment, led by the visionary philanthropy of the Davenport family," said Roxanne Ruppel, president and chief operating officer. "Taken together, these gifts will enable Salem Hospital to provide the best possible care across our community, treating each patient holistically. We are so deeply grateful for all our partners in our mission."

One-third of Salem Hospital's 368 inpatient beds are dedicated to behavioral health patients. In 2019, the hospital opened the Epstein Center for Behavioral Health, with 30 child/adolescent, 30 senior and 60 adult mental health beds.

"Salem Hospital's Epstein Center for Behavioral Health is the largest inpatient behavioral health resource in an acute care hospital the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," Davenport said. "The commitment they have made is incredible and my wife and I believe strongly in supporting this exceptional facility. It is the best of the best."

"Patients who suffer with mental health diagnoses need to be treated as whole people," said Karen Davenport, who is personally open about her own experiences with behavioral health challenges. "In the same sense that a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is chronic, so are many mental health diagnoses. They deserve the same level of commitment, compassion, and long-term management.

"Appropriate mental health care must be holistic and integrated into physical health and wellbeing."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)