Tom & Penny Founders Circle
Overview
The Tom & Penny Founders Circle is comprised of forward-thinking donors who have made, or pledged to make, a planned gift to Alcott. It also includes those who give $5,000 or more annually to support Alcott’s mission. This group has already played a significant role in our ability to create and fulfill our mission, and now they will lead the way to our future.
Throughout the next several years, we will begin recognizing these esteemed donors in a variety of ways, including:
Founders Circle members will have the option of having their names permanently placed and displayed on in-office plaque, visible to everyone entering our front doors.
All Founders Circle members will be recognized with distinction in our annual report. Those who have made (or plan to make) a planned gift will be recognized in perpetuity, even before the gift is made, while those who become Founders Circle members after a donation of $5,000 or more will be recognized the year of their gift/membership.
Founders Circle members will be verbally recognized for their contribution and commitment to community at our annual fundraising events.
Founders Circle members will be invited to an annual appreciation event, where they’ll have the opportunity to connect with Alcott’s CEO and ask about current and future events.
Distinguished Members
- Tom Pritchard
- Penny Mehra
- Armer Family
- Francesca Keck
- Ione Kennedy Trust
- Jeanette Moulthrop
- Rhonda Meister Memorial Trust
Plan Your Gift, Plant Your Legacy
Leaving the World Better than You Found It
Continued access to mental health care and housing support for generations to come will depend on individuals, like you, who begin planning their legacy today. Alcott currently accepts two types of planned gifts: Gifts through your Will (Bequest), and naming Alcott as a beneficiary of your IRA Assets, or 401(K)/ 403(B) Retirement Plan.
“Leaving the world better than you found it” is a commitment to actively improve your community and the lives of others, now and those to come, accomplished through kindness, care, and contributing positively to society. It’s about being a good ancestor, making positive changes that collectively create a better world, whether big or small. It’s about being part of something larger than yourself and creating a legacy for future generations.
Stories of Impact
What difference can I, just one person, actually make?
Few people follow through with planning their legacy. But those who have have each made an immense, generational impact in the lives of thousands of unique individuals. Read below to hear how Founders Circle members have made Alcott what it is today.
Over a period of time that’s seen immense swings in local, national, and global events, bringing with it immense community needs, Alcott has been a quiet, consistent presence in the local Los Angeles community, providing compassionate, integrated, and trauma-informed services daily to underserved individuals.
1979
This is Tom’s story
Tom Pritchard
Tom was motivated to start his work in nonprofit mental health after an internship at Camarillo State Hospital, where he saw so many people being pushed out who had nowhere to go. When the Camarillo State Mental Health Facility was closed, there was an influx of people needing help with mental health and housing. In April 1979, Tom organized a team of dedicated volunteers and started Alcott (then known as “Beverlywood Center”), which started out as a small facility and grew greater and greater because of the demand for the services it provided: a combination of housing and social rehabilitation. These social services proved to be so effective that the county quickly joined in partnership and provided funding so that Alcott (Beverlywood) could continue serving community members in need. Tom is now retired but continues to support the ongoing social care being provided through Alcott for thousands of underserved individuals across Los Angeles.
1981
This is Penny’s story
Penny Mehra
Penny first joined Alcott in 1981 as an intern. In only a few years she became an Administrator, which included managing the facility, maintenance, food service, housekeeping, night managers, medication management, and program staff. She felt overwhelmed by all this, and even felt a little bit of imposter syndrome, but overcame all of that because she believed that what the agency did for the community was worth it. As our programs and services expanded, Penny continued building bonds with the Department of Mental Health, attending local mental health stakeholder groups, fundraising, advocating for Alcott’ programs, and continued to support a sense of community with weekly meetings at the facilities. Penny dedicated 37 years to supporting our community members through Alcott and continues to support the work being done for generations to come.
2002
This is Armer Family’s story
Armer Family
Through a planned gift generously made by the Armer Family, Alcott established its Armer Training Institute program as a resource for clients, staff, and the public. This gift has enabled Alcott to provide educational programs, trainings, and forums for over 10 years now, enriching our community with understanding, opportunities, and a deeper investment in the needs of our neighbors. The program has covered industry-leading topics such as the role of biofeedback in mental health treatment, relevant updates on new laws impacting mental healthcare, as well as media and roundtable forums where community members have brought awareness by sharing personal stories of coping with mental health challenges.
Leading up to this gift, the Armer Family met with Alcott’s leadership for regular discussions, attended events, and clearly communicated their wishes for a planned gift. With missions aligned, their forethought has left a legacy of community awareness and compassion.
2020
This is the story of a selfless donor who wished to remain anonymous
Anonymous Donor
The planned gift of another generous donor (who wished to remain anonymous) played a singularly critical role in enabling Alcott to keep its doors open through the uncertainty and dire circumstances of the COVID pandemic. Alcott’s mental health and supportive housing services had been in a season of unprecedented expansion leading up to 2020 through newly established partnerships with the County. Not only did this planned gift act as a breath of life in allowing Alcott to continue operating, but it served as an investment with exponential (and generational) impact in the lives of thousands of people by allowing the momentum of Alcott’s services to continue to meet the growing need for accessible mental health and housing services across LA County.
This donor’s resolve to make a lasting impact in their community resulted in a gift that transformed LA County with an impact that far exceeded its monetary value. Since 2020, Alcott has increased the number of individuals served annually by nearly 20% each year.
Alcott’s story is the story of how thousands of unique individuals—neighbors—have been supported by a shared community belief that mental health challenges shouldn’t be a barrier to a meaningful life. Alcott is where these beliefs are made a reality.
What will your part in the story be?