The Kyle Hyland Foundation Secures $5M In State Funding

Benicia CA

14 September, 2021

1:41 PM

Description

BENICIA — September 14, 2021 – The Kyle Hyland Foundation (KHF) today announced that it will be receiving 5 million dollars in funding from the State of California to go towards the expansion of its mental health programs for teens. The KHF serves a vital need in the community and the organization is the only one of its kind, not only in Benicia but in many other surrounding cities. Benicia is a small town where teens have few places to go to gather and support each other. A KHF spokesperson notes that while some improvements have been made in the level of mental health services provided by local school districts, many teens in trouble often struggle to find the support they need. Parents with at-risk teens also encounter difficulty finding the help they need, with few local resources or referrals. The stigma of mental illness remains with little to no understanding in the general public. As a result of this lack of support and resources, youth continue to battle anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The mission of the Kyle Hyland Foundation is to provide charitable and educational support to youth by offering mental health programs and other services, and to maintain a center where teens can be provided emotional support through mentoring, counseling, music, and art. The Kyle Hyland Foundation currently operates the Benicia Teen Center. In 2019, the Benicia Teen Center served over 180 teens. "Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, youth and their families have been severely impacted", said Barbara Gervase, President and Executive Director of the Kyle Hyland Foundation. "This year, both Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature showed their commitment to our youth by their investment in the Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support. We are thankful that Assemblymember Tim Grayson supports the work we are doing and continues to advocate for the Kyle Hyland Foundation at the State level." "I'm thrilled that we've been able to secure $5 million for the Kyle Hyland Foundation to continue offering their life-saving support and resources for Benicia area teens," said Assemblymember Tim Grayson. "These funds are going to help keep Kyle's spirit felt in our community and will provide our local kids continued access to music, art, counseling, and social support. I'd like to thank the Foundation for the incredible work that they do, and Assemblymember Frazier and our fellow colleagues who helped us ensure that these funds were realized." As a result of the focus and advocacy of Assemblymember Grayson, $5 million in funding to the City of Benicia for The Kyle Hyland Foundation was ultimately included in CA Budget Act SB129, line item 171 and was formally approved when SB129 was signed by Governor Newsome on July 12, 2021. The City of Benicia will be acting as the fiscal agent for the administration of these funds. According to the Foundation, the long-term plan for the use of this generous funding from the State of California is not fully formed; however, the initial focus will be to create a broad mental health program for youth in Benicia and beyond. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, youth are struggling more than ever before. The support received from the State, through the perseverance of Assemblymember Grayson, cannot come at a more necessary time. This funding is especially crucial given the fact that during 2012-2019, the rate of suicide deaths in Solano County was significantly higher than that of the State and the Nation during 2 of the 8 years, including 2019 (per the Solano County Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan Update 2021). Also, the county suicide death is continuing to trend upward in 2021. The Kyle Hyland Foundation is dedicated to honoring its supporters as well as the State by, in turn, supporting as many youth as possible while everyone recovers from the pandemic. With these new funds, KHF will now be able to expand their outreach and resources to greater support mental wellness. They ask the community to continue to stay involved in their efforts and to watch as great things come to pass as a direct result of this investment in the Kyle Hyland Foundation by the State of California. To learn more about The Kyle Hyland Foundation, its programs, and upcoming events including the Memorial Walk for Suicide Prevention on September 25 and the Annual Golf Tournament on October 2, please visit https://kylehyland.com. Press Contact: Barbara Gervase [email protected] (707)301-8312