THE FOUNDATION OF HOPE FOR RESEARCH & TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS

C.S. Lewis said that there are better things ahead than any we leave behind. In 1984, Thad and Alice Eure, owners of the Angus Barn Restaurant, established the Foundation of Hope for Research and Treatment of Mental Illness after their son, Thad, Jr., was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Realizing that advances in scientific research were the keys to understanding the causes of, and potential cures and treatments for, mental illness, the Eures charged the Foundation with investing in groundbreaking scientific research and mental health initiatives. Today, much of this support manifests in awarding seed grants to researchers and clinical care providers within the UNC Department of Psychiatry and its affiliated programs. After Thad’s death in 1988, his employees decided to honor his memory by raising money for the Foundation of Hope. They called their event The Thad Eure, Jr. Walk for Hope, and that first year 200 participants raised nearly $35,000 for the Foundation. Since then, the Walk for Hope has become an annual community event, as well as the Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. The family-friendly event typically brings 3,000 participants together and raises over $600,000, 100% of which directly supports research. Since its founding in 1984, the Foundation has awarded 164 scientific research grants totaling more than $6.9 million; these funds have leveraged an additional $191 million from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies. The Foundation has also given more than $590,000 to 43 mental health initiatives, shoring up resources for local organizations who work directly with those suffering from mental illnesses in North Carolina.