Transforming youth mental healthcare

Make a gift to Montage Health Foundation today in support of Ohana, a transformative model of youth mental healthcare.

How you can help

Your generosity will help countless children and families. Your gift to support Ohana will:

  • Build youth mental fitness through prevention, education, and community outreach programs
  • Address critical health needs impacting youth mental health, such as nutrition and substance use prevention
  • Support families in crisis through support groups and patient care
  • Nurture healthy families through programs for first-time parents and parents of young children

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Addressing a critical need

Data shows that an increasing number of children and teens suffer from mental health challenges, which is further compounded by a lack of psychiatric beds, residential care facilities, shortages in mental health professionals, and lower-than-average funding.

  • According to a Monterey Peninsula Unified School District student survey, 1 in 6 students considered suicide and 1 in 3 suffered depression-related feelings

  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an alarming 44 percent of high school students report persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, the highest level ever recorded

  • And, mental health emergency visits increased up to 31% in ages 12-17 during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and 41 other California counties have no child/adolescent inpatient psychiatric beds, as reported by the California Hospital Association. Before Ohana launched, Monterey County youth in crisis had to spend several days in an emergency room, waiting to travel to another county more than 100 miles away for the care they needed

Ohana family

Bertie’s gift

Bertie Bialek Elliot’s generous, unprecedented $105.8 million gift to Montage Health Foundation represents the largest donation ever in Monterey County — and one of the most significant philanthropic commitments in healthcare nationwide. A significant portion of her gift was used to build the Ohana campus, grow a robust team of youth mental health professionals, and establish an endowment to provide long-term funding for Ohana’s youth mental health programs.

Additional gifts to Ohana help us grow programs and services for young people in our community today. Join fellow philanthropists like Bertie to transform youth mental health.

Learn more about Ohana

Explore more information about Ohana, including the history of the organization, founding donor Bertie Bialek Elliot’s biography, Ohana’s leadership and staff, and resources for the media.

Discover ways to donate

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Ways to donate

Ohana

Transforming mental healthcare for our youth

Growing up offers different challenges for every child and family. Think of Ohana when your child or teenager needs skilled mental, emotional, or behavioral health services, or you want guidance to support your child’s healthy development and well-being.

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Contact the foundation team

Call (831) 658-3630 or send us an email to learn more about our work or ways to give. Let’s talk about how we can make your vision for a healthier Monterey County a reality.

Our mailing address is:
Montage Health Foundation
40 Ryan Court, Suite 200
Monterey, CA 93940