Mary Black Foundation awards $6 million to Vital Spartanburg

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Mary Black Foundation has made a $6 million investment into a new initiative, a community-wide action plan for mental and behavioral health.

Vital Spartanburg aims to address the mental health crisis in the community through real action and coordination by bringing together healthcare providers, nonprofits, municipalities, and philanthropists. It will pilot innovative programs as well as support and expand existing work.

The Mary Black Foundation has committed $6 million over the next five years to launch Vital Spartanburg. That initial investment has already helped to add $7 million more to the campaign from donors such as the Duke Endowment, United Way of the Piedmont and others.

The Foundation’s support is a direct result of the unexpected $8 million gift from MacKenzie Scott in 2022. 

“The plan will launch new, innovative efforts, but it will also support and grow the many effective programs and initiatives already taking place in Spartanburg,” said Molly Talbot-Metz, President and CEO of the Mary Black Foundation.

A group of representatives from more than 40 organizations worked together for 18 months to create a plan for how to address behavioral and mental health needs together, not in isolation. Even more unique is that philanthropy has been at the table since day one. 

“Funders and service providers worked closely together throughout the process. The decision to develop a plan, the process of creating the plan, funding of the plan, and the execution and evaluation of the plan have all been designed in collaboration,” said Rochelle Williams, Chief Strategy Officer for the Mary Black Foundation.

This plan focuses on prevention, treatment, and system coordination and has three key priorities:

• Improve mental well-being of children and families.

• Promote well-being of those struggling with severe mental illness.

• Support individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders.

McKenzie Scott’s unprecedented and unrestricted gift was given in November 2022 to support the Foundation’s mission to invest in the improved health and wellbeing of Spartanburg County residents.

Based on a needs assessment and input from community members and organizational partners, the Foundation decided to use the money to positively impact behavioral health outcomes, which helped lead to the creation of Vital Spartanburg, which was announced at the end of June.

About Mary Black Foundation

The Mary Black Foundation is an independent grantmaking organization to improve the health and well-being of the people and communities of Spartanburg County. They invest in trailblazing organizations and solutions. They are philanthropic risk-takers who make calculated bets on bold, data-informed solutions to entrenched community health problems. Learn more at maryblackfoundation.org.