Julie Miller, left, agency executive director for Family Service Inc., Tracy Stachniak, center, Toyota Material Handling vice president of human resources, and Michael Heyden, Family Service Inc. president and Toyota Material Handling senior manager, pose for a photo during the recent presentation of a $5,000 donation from the company’s executive giving program.
Submitted photo
Columbus-based Toyota Material Handling recently donated $5,000 to local nonprofit Family Service Inc. in support of Mental Health Awareness Month.
The donation comes as a result of the company’s executive giving program started in 2012 as a way to encourage leaders to get involved with and give back to a local organization they’re passionate about. Each year, they are allotted between $2,500 and $10,000 to donate to a local nonprofit that’s making a difference in the community.
The program also encourages executives to contribute to the organization in a meaningful way by donating their time.
Toyota Material Handling’s latest contribution to Family Service Inc. was spearheaded by Tracy Stachniak, the company’s vice president of human resources. Stachniak, who serves on the board for the local chapter of the American Red Cross, is passionate about giving back to the community. She learned about Family Service Inc. from several Toyota associates who volunteer with the organization, including Michael Heyden, president of Family Service Inc. and a senior manager at Toyota.
The donation will directly assist Family Service Inc. in providing mental health therapy and abuse prevention education.
In 2022, Family Service Inc. provided more than 620 individuals with mental health services in the region, including approximately 1,833 free therapy sessions for youth and adults. The agency provides in-person prevention education, reaching more than 25,000 individuals last year. The organization partners with multiple organizations in the area to provide holistic support for those with immediate and long-term needs.
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the United States since 1949, supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness to raise awareness about mental health, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the U.S. affected by mental illness. To join the conversation on social media, use the #MoreThanEnough hashtag.