The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Celebrates 10-Year Milestone.
In 2012,The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation was formed to reach economically disadvantaged and underserved populations, marginalized communities and causes often overlooked or underfunded by mainstream philanthropy. Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has given 440 grants to 142 nonprofit partners.
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation focuses primarily on four key areas – military & first responders, health & home, youth & education and the American dream. Giving is directed to nonprofits that are successfully addressing these issues and can demonstrate and measure the impact of their work.
“When Bob and I first sat down to discuss creating our foundation 10 years ago, we thought about our mission and how we would give. One fundamental goal was a constant, championing inclusivity,” said President & Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons. “Making people feel seen, heard and accepted has been a common thread through our work at The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. Every person deserves to feel whole, equal, safe and welcome.”
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is driven by the core belief that all people – regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity – deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Operating under the tagline “We Deal in Hope,” the Foundation strives to provide life-changing assistance to the community’s most vulnerable populations. Even when it isn’t popular to do so.
“We tackle controversial causes, things people don’t necessarily like to talk about during dinner parties,” said Founder & CEO of PXG Bob Parsons. “We focus on things like MDMA-assisted therapy to cure PTSD, supporting law enforcement, giving scholarships to inner-city students and Dreamers who want to attend college, comforting babies born to opioid-addicted mothers and uplifting LGBTQ organizations.”
Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has granted an average of $1 million every 15 days. And not every grant is glamorous. Gifts are often structured to support general operations, allowing the organization to decide the best use of the funds. To learn more about The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit tbrpf.org.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley Reveals the Renee Parsons Girls Leadership & Excellence Award Winners.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ) has announced the fifth annual Renee Parsons Girls Leadership Award. Established by businesswoman and philanthropist, Renee Parsons, the award honors girls who have showcased three fundamental leadership qualities – collaboration, assertiveness and empathy – and provides the awardee the opportunity to be granted up to $80,000 of scholarship funding over four years as well as a new laptop.
Parsons surprised the 2022 honoree, Jayna Shafer, with the award via a Zoom call. During the meeting, Shafer was unaware she had already been selected as this year’s recipient and, instead, was prepared for a candidate interview with Parsons. The announcement was a wonderful shock for both Shafer and her mother who accompanied her on the call. The video can be viewed here.
“So much of what these young women are learning and accomplishing at the Boys & Girls Club are skills that I value in my own life and career,” said Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel. “Jayna’s character, drive and ambition stood out right away and I know she will go on to do great things and inspire others to do the same.”
Shafer is a dedicated student, works 30 hours per week, tutors fellow BGCAZ members in math and science and is an excellent role model to her younger siblings. Shafer plans to pursue a degree in Information Technology and Software Engineering. While the number of women in STEM is growing, it is wonderful to see more young women enter the field. After college she would like to join the Navy to further her career.
“I just want her to go as far as she can and reach her dreams,” said Shafer’s mother, Jennifer. “We are so proud of her.”
While the Foundation serves a variety of youth-related causes, Parsons has personally placed a large emphasis on supporting young women and improving their access to quality education. It is because of this passion that a secondary award was created in 2021, the Renee Parsons Excellence Award. Jessica Davis was named this year’s recipient of the Excellence Award and presented up to $40,000 of scholarship funding over four years along with a new laptop.
Davis is a longstanding member of BGCAZ and caught the attention of Parsons through her dedicated volunteerism, compassion and leadership skills – becoming a mentor for many club members, serving as vice president and treasurer on numerous club committees and striving as a hardworking teammate on the boy’s football team.
For more than 75 years, BGCAZ has been creating equity and hope for youth through academic, social and workforce programming. A large focus is centered on the organization’s four priority outcomes: Academic Success; Good Character & Leadership; Healthy Lifestyles & Career Pathways; and Workforce Readiness. Through these award-winning programs, BGCAZ has been able to reach 13,000+ youth across the Valley. To learn more about BGCAZ, and its impact, please visit bgcaz.org.
Semper Fi & America’s Fund and The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Raise more than $20 Million in Tenth Year of the Double Down for Veterans Campaign.
Raise $20,000,000 in two months – that was the goal set by Semper Fi & America’s Fund (The Fund) during its 10th annual Double Down for Veterans fundraising campaign. Thousands of supporters stepped up to donate the first $10 million which was then matched, dollar-for-dollar, by The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The challenge ran November 1 through December 31, 2021 and, this year, The Fund reached its $10 million goal a record nine days before the deadline.
“Veterans who are wounded in the line of duty, and facing both physical and psychological battles, come home to a very different reality than the one they left behind,” said Bob Parsons, Marine Corps Vietnam War Veteran and Founder and CEO of PXG. “Although numerous programs and organizations exist to assist our nation’s veterans, none measure up to the immediate and long-term support provided by The Fund.”
The donations will support critically wounded, ill, or injured service members, veterans, and military families across all military branches. The ultimate goal is for these service members and their families to create lives that are not defined by injury or illness but rather filled with hope for what the future holds.
“Bob and Renee Parsons have once again shown the incredible hearts they have for our military families,” said Karen Guenther, Founder, President and CEO of Semper Fi & America’s Fund. “The effect that their generosity has on our Fund family is, quite simply, extraordinary.”
Inspired by the grit, courage, and sacrifice of our nation’s service members, The Fund has provided immediate, needs-based financial assistance and tailored support to more than 27,000 service members and military families. This support can start the first moment of injury and last a lifetime.
“There are so many examples I could give of how The Fund has been there over the years. They help individuals like me regain that independence and have a new mission – that’s really the biggest thing,” Gabe said, a Marine injured in Iraq. “They truly are family. I love them like they were my own family.”
From injury through recovery, The Fund’s comprehensive programs improve the lives of wounded veterans, their families, and military family members with an injury or illness. Case managers, visiting nurses and entire support teams help those they serve to navigate complex medical and emotional recovery.
“The Fund’s individualized support for service members is unique among veterans’ organizations,” said Renee Parsons, President and Executive Creative Director for PXG Apparel. “Even as challenges and new needs arise, The Fund is there, treating each hero under their care like family.”
To learn more or donate to meet the needs of military heroes, visit: thefund.org.
Hushabye Nursery Receives $250,000 Grant From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation granted $250,000 to Hushabye Nursery in support of its inpatient detox nursery and recovery center for infants experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Hushabye Nursery provides a therapeutic environment, short-term medical care and social services for infants suffering from NAS, along with outpatient services and resources for families experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD). NAS affects newborn babies who were exposed to opioids in the womb and requires a complex and painful detoxification process in the days following birth. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in the United States, a baby is born every 15 minutes with NAS resulting from prenatal opioid exposure.
“The team at Hushabye Nursery is providing a new level of compassionate care to substance-exposed infants,” said President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons. “The organization is giving these babies and their families hope, and the tools they need to move forward.”
Hushabye Nursery’s approach is distinctly different than the typical hospitalneonatal intensive care unit. Hushabye Nursery provides a comfortable, safe environment – with quiet, private rooms and dim lighting – for babies to be cared for as they go through detox. While hospitals treat NAS babies primarily with medication, Hushabye resorts to drugs only when necessary. Hushabye’s approach has lowered treatment time during this painful period to an average of only six days compared to an average of 16 to 21 days in traditional hospital neonatal ICUs.
“Created by nurse practitioners, Hushabye Nursery is one of only three nationwide medical care models dedicated to treating infants experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome,” said Hushabye Nursery executive director and founder Tara Sundem. “Thanks to generous donors like Bob and Renee Parsons, we are able to support and comfort babies through the withdrawal process and offer moms and dads who are in recovery a nonjudgmental place to develop a long term plan for treatment and keeping their family safe.”
Hushabye Nursery takes a holistic approach to treating babies born with NAS and supporting their families by offering behavioral health and educational resources. In addition to the nursery, Hushabye offers wraparound services, including both prenatal and postnatal programs. Even after a baby is discharged, the organization helps coordinate long-term care such as pediatric support, counseling and OUD treatment, as well as recovery and prevention programs.
“The harsh reality is the infants being cared for by Hushabye Nursery are born addicted to opioids and suffering the excruciatingly painful process of withdrawal,” said PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons. “The loving care Hushabye extends, along with social services and family support, sets a foundation for these children to have some chance for a better future.”
The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated opioid use disorder and it is estimated that one in eight children ages 17 or younger resided in households with at least one parent who had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year. The prevalence of OUD within families underscores the need for Hushabye Nursery’s comprehensive approach to OUD prevention, one that treats the entire family, is community-based and culturally informed and addresses the traumatic experiences that may accompany substance use. This integration of healthcare and social services helps keep children safely with their families instead of being separated during recovery, mitigating the impact of adverse childhood experiences on families. To learn more about the organization or how to get involved, please visit the Hushabye Nursery website at www.hushabyenursery.org.
Local First Arizona Foundation Is Awarded $330,000 Grant From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Funding to support the organization’s Entrepreneurial Education and Job Development Campus in South Phoenix
Local First Arizona Foundation (LFAF) – a nonprofit committed to community and economic development and the largest locally-owned business coalition in the country – has been awarded a $330,211 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The multi-year grant will support food entrepreneurs, particularly those who capitalize on LFAF’s newest program coming soon to the Brooks Academy Campus in South Phoenix. Through his program, the organization will mentor and train local small business owners, specifically entrepreneurs of color, as they leverage the vibrant flavors and cuisine of their culture to grow thriving businesses that feed their community.
Over the next two years, Local First will develop the Entrepreneurial Education and Job Development Campus in South Phoenix (Campus) and mentor 75 existing food businesses in the area. The goal is to provide training programs in English and Spanish that will help these entrepreneurs learn to more efficiently manage their businesses and maximize profitability to help ensure long-term success.
“Local First and the new Entrepreneurial Education and Job Development Campus is a major step forward in advancing entrepreneurial inclusivity in Arizona,” said President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons. “The benefits of growing local small businesses extend beyond a single proprietor and help create strong, sustainable communities.”
Located in what is currently considered a food desert, the campus will utilize unused space at a local elementary school and include classrooms, a commercial kitchen and expansive food gardens. A robust farmers market featuring local vendors will serve low-income families each week with increased access to culturally appropriate, healthy and affordable food. The program aims to help alleviate food insecurity and positively impact overall nutrition for more than 3,000 families in the surrounding community.
“When entrepreneurs have an opportunity to create and connect in their community with one another, it positively affects an entire area and gives it–and everyone in it–a path forward. A path where healthy food becomes more accessible, and businesses have a chance to grow and thrive,” said Local First CEO Kimber Lanning. “This and more community kitchens offer a way for new business owners to take solid steps forward building their businesses, supporting their families and employees and breaking down the barriers that previously stood in their way.”
Barriers to success for BIPOC individuals have long-since existed and include lack of access to capital, coupled with racialized zoning policies, which leave Black and Latino communities in the South Phoenix area extremely marginalized. This program aims to directly invest in these communities to build generational wealth through the advancement of successful small business development. In addition to growing culturally diverse food businesses in the area, the program will support 48 immigrant/refugee entrepreneurs and improve job skills of 250 local residents.
“Everyone willing to put in the work deserves to get an equal shot at building their own business and creating a better life for themselves and their families,” said Founder and CEO of PXG Bob Parsons. “Local First Arizona is helping give entrepreneurs, especially those in underserved communities, better access to the tools they need to succeed.”
Founded in 2003, LFA supports underserved entrepreneurs and locally owned businesses to help build a diverse, inclusive and prosperous Arizona economy. One-of-a-kind services and resources – such as hands-on learning opportunities, entrepreneurial development and community advocacy – help enable local business owners to be more resilient and improve overall success rates. To learn more, visit localfirstaz.com.
Marking A Decade of Doubling Down for Veterans, Semper Fi & America’s Fund Kicks Off $20 Million Fundraising Campaign with The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Now through December 31, 2021 donations will be matched up to $10 million
Today, Semper Fi & America’s Fund (The Fund) and The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation launched the 10th annual Double Down for Veterans Match Campaign. From now until December 31, 2021, donations made to The Fund will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $10 million by The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Each contribution during this campaign will support The Fund’s core mission of assisting combat wounded, critically ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. As part of its lifelong support, The Fund offers long-term integrative wellness programs focused on PTSD and the effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries.
“I personally believe that most of us who have served deal with some form of PTSD. And I also know it can be difficult to admit that you need help,” said Marine Corps Vietnam War Veteran and Founder and CEO of PXG Bob Parsons. “Great organizations like Semper Fi & America’s Fund are here to offer the resources necessary to take back your life.”
Parsons issued the Double Down for Veterans challenge via a moving video address during his annual Marine Corps birthday tribute.
While originally focused on post 9/11 military members, in 2018 The Fund extended its services to those who served in Vietnam with the LCpl Parsons Welcome Home Fund for Vietnam Veterans. The organization’s multifaceted programming includes support for both service members and their families during the time of recovery through the transition back into civilian life and beyond. These efforts help extraordinary men and women attain and sustain their fullest level of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health to thrive in their communities.
“Although the stark realities of September 11, 2001 are now two decades behind us, the tough realities and challenges that our wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans face are ever-present,” said Karen Guenther, President & CEO, Semper Fi & America’s Fund. “Additionally, the adverse impact of recent events in Afghanistan and of the continuing COVID-19 health pandemic are a relentless reminder that those who sacrificed greatly for our country urgently need our assistance. Thanks to the longtime generosity of Bob and Renee Parsons, The Fund can continue its important work.”
Since its inception in 2003, The Fund has given $260 million in assistance to 27,000 service members. Through the continued generosity of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, the Double Down for Veterans Campaign alone has raised $145 million to date.
“When a service member or military family is in need, Semper Fi & America’s Fund is always there,” said President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons. “The Fund offers both immediate, emergency services and a lifetime of support for our country’s heroes.”
Once again this year, the Double Down for Veterans campaign is being supported by Parsons Extreme Golf (PXG). A research and development company, PXG was founded in 2014 by Bob Parsons out of a desire to make the world’s best golf equipment and apparel.
Donations to the Double Down for Veterans Match Campaign can be made online from now until December 31, 2021, by visiting www.TheFund.org/Match, or via check, equities, donor-advised funds, or other donation methods. Keep up to date on the campaign’s progress and learn more about those benefiting from the work of The Fund via its social media channels @semperfifund.
The ASU Foundation for A New American University Receives $2 Million Grant From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Funding to provide math and computer science resources to Arizona middle school students and beyond through Arizona State University
The ASU Foundation for A New American University has been awarded a two-year, $2 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The funding will directly support the development and delivery of its Math, Computer Science and Statistics (MACS) Accelerator, which provides digital, educational resources to students across Arizona.
Established by Arizona State University, the MACS Accelerator aims to leverage artificial intelligence and cutting-edge tools to dramatically improve the teaching and learning of math and computer science at the middle school level. The two initial learning tools – focused on pre-algebra and personalized tutoring – are designed to provide students access to individualized learning support in real time and ultimately achieve mastery in the subject.
“The quality of math and science education provided at the middle school level has a direct impact on a student’s lifelong learning,” said President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons. “These tools focus on that critical window, heighten educational resources and lead students to academic success in high school and higher education.”
Math and computer science are considered critical building blocks for today’s youth, yet only 41% of Arizona eighth graders are math proficient, according to 2019 AzMerit test results by Expect More Arizona. Additionally, minority and low-income students – which encompass more than half of Arizona youth – are found to have lower educational attainment rates. This data shows there are clear learning gaps at the K-12 range that often hinder a student’s ability to master critical learning objectives at the postsecondary level and beyond.
“Learning is a lifelong journey, unique to each individual, and ASU is committed to providing access to higher education for anyone who is committed to doing the work,” said Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow. “Bob and Renee Parsons’ support will enable us to advance on this important mission, and their gift will help more students attain a high-quality education and be prepared for next generation STEM careers, which are vital to the workforce of the future and to economic expansion.”
The pre-algebra pilot will provide schools with a customized diagnostic and remediation tool to meet students where they are in the learning process – whether they’re behind due to the effects of COVID-19 remote learning or ahead of state standards. The tool uses an algorithmic, AI-approach to identify areas that need improvement and discover the most efficient methods to address these deficiencies. Additionally, the pilot will include added features to further delve into the social and emotional components of learning. ASU plans to implement the tool in 250 Arizona schools by spring 2022.
The first phase of the tool will also include a technology-powered, personalized tutor that offers real-time guidance and intervention during the learning and problem-solving process. These technological advancements will help lay the program’s foundation and work to construct the building blocks for additional computer science and data science curriculums, two critical subjects for students to master when preparing for several of today’s jobs.
“Education is a powerful tool, and it’s our duty to help ensure we’re meeting the academic needs of all students – regardless of their background,” said PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons. “The innovations being deployed by ASU will prepare students for success not only in higher education but future long-term careers.”
Driven by teachers, coaches and newly designed adaptive learning tools, the MACS Accelerator will help ensure students can achieve academic success and master the skills needed to pursue STEM-oriented career pathways.
Acclaimed Alumnus Bob Parsons Increases His Support Of The University of Baltimore With A $2.4 Million Grant To Support Programs Focused On Veteran And Active-Military Student Populations.
With a multiyear, $2.4 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, Bob Parsons – B.S. ’75, D.H.L. ’08, a Baltimore native and Marine Corps Vietnam War Veteran – has increased his support for both The Bob Parsons Veterans Center and The Bob Parsons Veterans Advocacy Clinic at The University of Baltimore.
“The transition back into civilian life and getting a college education can be challenging,” said Parsons, Founder and CEO of PXG. “Having specialized support and legal counsel when needed can go a long way in making successful transitions possible.”
These two areas of focus – one serving all veterans who seek an education at the University, the other pairing University of Baltimore School of Law students and faculty in an advocacy role with Baltimore-based veterans in need of legal services – form the nexus of the University’s dedication to supporting members of the military during or following their service.
“Bob Parsons is one of the most distinguished graduates of the University of Baltimore and we thank him immensely for his continued support of our mission,” said University of Baltimore President Kurt L. Schmoke. “Part of that mission is that we welcome and assist those who have spent time in the military. Mr. Parsons agreed, when he established the veterans center and clinic back in 2013, that his alma mater was getting that right. This latest effort will allow us to see a dramatic expansion of our impact and make it clear that our commitment to serving veterans is strong, and our abilities rock solid.”
Currently, The Bob Parsons Veterans Center reaches more than 300 veteran and military-affiliated students, offering them a place to study, socialize and participate in activities. The Center also provides mentorship programs and helps ensure these students graduate and are successfully prepared to reach their full potential in the workforce and their personal lives. The recent grant will specifically support a new full-time staff member that will allow the Center to offer even more academic, career, service and social-based programming.
“It would have been a dream to have this level of support as I was transitioning from the U.S. Army into higher education,” said Bob Parsons Veterans Center Director Josiah Guthland. “I had a hard time transitioning from a combat environment into college because I did not have a group of people with whom I could connect. Having The Bob Parsons Veterans Center allows veterans to be part of a community that understands them and their experiences. Really, we are here to support the veteran and military-affiliated student population with the honor and respect that they deserve.”
The Bob Parsons Veterans Advocacy Clinic provides law students at the University with the opportunity to engage with veterans and to learn about the legal difficulties they often encounter after leaving the military. Through the process of pro bono representation, students gain empathy and knowledge about the inadequate support and resources that exist for veterans. The Clinic teaches the skills necessary to advocate for veterans through individual case representation and impact legislative policy changes that have transformed the way veterans are treated by the legal system.
Bob Parsons’ support for his alma mater extends beyond funding for veterans’ programs. Established in 2020, The Bob Parsons Scholarship Fund is the single largest donation to a scholarship program in the history of The University of Baltimore. This recent grant brings Parsons’ total support to the University to more than $9 million since 2013.
McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Receives $1,500,000 Grant From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Funding will support The Parsons Field Institute’s work in environmental research and education
The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy (the Conservancy) has received a $1,500,000 multi-year grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to continue the work of The Parsons Field Institute. The Conservancy serves as the steadfast steward of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which encompasses more than 30,500 acres, with 225 miles of trails, making it the largest urban preserve in North America.
“One of Arizona’s most spectacular landscapes, the Sonoran Desert is home to an incredible variety of plant and animal life,” said Bob Parsons, Founder and CEO of PXG. “It is critically important we do our part to better understand and protect this natural resource.”
In addition to its work to maintain and preserve the Preserve, the Conservancy is dedicated to improving management practices in ecological restoration. This work includes controlling invasive, non-native plant species and assessing the impact of urban stressors and climate change on the Sonoran Desert and other arid lands.
During the past few years, the Conservancy has transformed from a land conservation organization into a leading scientific research and education institution. Much of its work has far-reaching implications with findings and solutions that have the potential to positively impact arid lands on a global scale, and education plays a critical role in inspiring future generations about the significance of the Sonoran Desert.
This recent grant will support several key initiatives including:
Wildfire mitigation focusing on fire-safe practices, partnerships with the local fire department and research on hazardous vegetation
Soil crust restoration work to find new methods to lessen dust storms and the related respiratory issues they cause
Protecting biodiversity through monitoring, research, conservation and education
Ongoing and expanded education and outreach including the development of a K-12 STEAM curriculum
“We are grateful for the generous support of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation,” said Justin Owen, CEO of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. “Their partnership will allow us to not only continue our education programs for children in underserved communities but expand and share our scientific research with those in similar environments around the world.”
In addition to ecological research, the Conservancy places a large emphasis on education. Several of its programs work to engage students, often from Title 1 schools, in immersive experiences that highlight the importance of protecting the environment. The long-term goal of the conservancy is to continue to expand these programs and create a full STEAM curriculum.
“Each and every one of us has a duty to be a good steward of our natural surroundings,” said Renee Parsons, President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel. “The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is doing incredible work in teaching others to respect this beautiful space and leading research that will help ensure its long-term preservation.”
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has been a valued partner to the Conservancy since 2014 and this recent grant brings total funding to $2,350,000. To learn more about the work of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy or how to get involved, visit mcdowellsonoran.org and follow the Conservancy via social media: @mcdowellsonoranconservancy.
Mount Sinai’s Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research Receives $5 Million Grant From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Funds will support cutting-edge MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD
The Mount Sinai Health System today announced a $5 million charitable contribution by The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to build and support training and education for therapists using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and other psychedelic medicine approaches. The multiyear grant will support the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. A secondary partner to the gift is the Bronx Research Foundation, affiliated with the James J. Peters VA Medical Center.
The grant supports a progressive partnership between research and medical organizations and the VA. The work will focus on helping ensure that following the anticipated approval by the Food and Drug Administration of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, clinicians will be properly trained and certified to make this highly effective treatment available as quickly as possible. Additionally, the gift from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will fund the development of protocols to deliver MDMA in the context of group psychotherapy for veterans with PTSD. It will also establish a postgraduate fellowship program and support the Center’s successful MINDSET lecture series.
“A major bottleneck in the emerging field of psychedelics is in the training and education of therapists in community-based settings such as the VA,” said Rachel Yehuda, PhD, Director of the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research. “The gift from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation allows us to leverage the knowledge obtained in our clinical trials at the VA and Mount Sinai towards training a diverse group of therapists with expertise in treating PTSD in real-world clinical settings.”
PTSD is highly prevalent in our society, affecting 10-15 percent of trauma survivors. Among combat veterans, rates are even higher, with estimates ranging from 20-40 percent. Although treatments for PTSD exist, it is a notoriously intractable condition: many patients remain symptomatic even after completing several courses of therapy. A recent phase 3 clinical trial sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS) demonstrated significant benefits for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for chronic PTSD: it not only promotes symptom reduction, but provides a cure.
“Millions of people are trapped in an all-too-silent battle with PTSD, and current treatments are not enough. Personally, I’ve tried a number of different treatments and found psychedelic-assisted therapy to be the most effective. It’s a gamechanger. Now, 50 years after the war, I’ve finally come home,” said Bob Parsons, United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran, Purple Heart recipient and Founder and CEO of PXG. “I want this to be true for all veterans battling PTSD. It’s time to bring them home.”
Mount Sinai Health System researchers are at the forefront of uncovering the biological causes of many psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. In developing its training and supervision program, the Center will work closely with MAPS, which will provide clinical supervision and certification of therapists who complete all aspects of the training.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Mount Sinai and James J. Peters VA on this strategically important project that will facilitate the adoption of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD within communities that care for our veterans,” said Rick Doblin, PhD, Executive Director of MAPS.
The mission of the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research is to perform clinical trials and neuroscience studies of psychedelics as well as to provide ongoing education so that a new generation of providers can use these cutting-edge approaches to help trauma survivors achieve significant symptom reduction and access resilience and post-traumatic growth.
“The VA is committed to excellence in training and education of its clinicians, and the James J. Peters VA has been at the forefront of understanding PTSD and developing and testing evidence-based approaches to the treatment of combat veterans with PTSD,” said Margaret O’Shea Caplan, Director of the James J. Peters VA, a Mount Sinai affiliate.
While the program will prioritize clinicians working with veterans, including practitioners at the Department of Veterans Affairs, those working with civilians will also be eligible.
“PTSD can impact veterans, first responders, victims of domestic violence, and anyone who has endured trauma, as well as their families,” said Renee Parsons, President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel. “By supporting this cutting-edge research, we hope to help ease the pain of those who have already been through so much.”
Under the direction of Dr. Yehuda, the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research is focused on performing the clinical trials necessary to examine the therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds such as MDMA and psilocybin. The Center will also conduct comprehensive research on the mechanisms of action of these treatments so that they can be scaled and most effectively delivered to appropriate patients.
