Supporting Students' Mental Health through Philanthropy
For Deborah Butt Rogers (BSEd. ’82) and David Rogers, of San Antonio, Texas, their philanthropy is born from a calling to help students struggling with their mental health. Their strong conviction inspires their life’s work, both through their personal giving and through the H. E. Butt Foundation, which was formed by Deborah’s grandparents in 1933.
In the Fall, the Rogers pledged a $500,000 gift to Baylor University in support of Baylor’s mental health and wellness initiatives and outreach supporting students, including mental health and wellness awareness coaching and strengths-based resiliency training through the Counseling Center. The Rogers also made similar gifts to the University of Mississippi, where David is an alumnus, and Sewanee: The University of the South, where two of their children are alumni.
“Mental health and wellness have been important to our family for generations,” Deborah said. “My grandmother was on the board of MHMR under six governors. For many decades, she worked tirelessly in the mental health field. My father, Howard Butt, Jr. (BA ’47), struggled with severe clinical depression during his adult years. In our generation and in our children’s generation, we've all had counseling needs that have arisen. So, it just seemed fitting and timely for David and me to do something personally for students in this area.”
“The H. E. Butt Foundation has a retreat center called Laity Lodge with related youth and family camp programs,” David adds. “We hire about 300 college students a year to help facilitate and be counselors. Over the years, I've noticed a higher level of mental health needs of not only our campers, but our staff as well.”
The intent of the Rogers’ gift to Baylor’s Division of Student Life is to provide early intervention tools for staff and students, along with mental health awareness training so that a student’s peers may better understand how to help a classmate who may be struggling.
As former Baylor Parents, Deborah and David have seen how important supporting mental health initiatives can be to the health of the student body.
“Our daughter Alexandra Rogers Crawford (BS, Child and Family Studies ’15) and her husband, Patrick Cain Crawford (BBA ’13) met at Baylor and are still involved,” Deborah said. “They have shared some things about their experiences and recognize this is badly needed on every college campus these days.”
While no one program will solve the diverse and complex needs of all students at Baylor University, the Rogers see their gift as one more layer – one more part of a safety net to support students while bringing with it awareness and education.
“All of these programs, to some degree, are increasing the awareness,” David said. “We want to reduce the stigma and normalize seeking help. We all have mental health challenges at times. Each one of these different programs has a multiplier effect.”
For David and Deborah, this gift is part of a legacy – a family’s legacy of impact.
“David and I have been blessed by the work that my grandparents and my parents have done before us in so many ways,” Deborah said. “This is one area where we have just picked up the baton, and it's such a natural way to continue to do our best to make a difference.”
It is a legacy that the family prefers to steward quietly. However, as we observe Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the Rogers shared their story in hope that other Baylor Parents, alumni and friends will come alongside their gift in supporting students at Baylor.
Baylor Family members who want to join David and Deborah in supporting Baylor students can make a gift to the Student Health and Wellness Support Fund for Baylor University or the Student Resiliency Fund for Baylor University.