New face at the foundation

Dear Friends,

While this is an unusual and difficult moment in the world, work at the Gruben Charitable Foundation continues, and I’m pleased to be in touch to tell you about some exciting changes here.  I recently invited Lynne Harlow to join the Gruben Charitable Foundation team, and she will be assisting us with our grant making. Lynne is experienced in foundation management, and she looks forward to supporting you by answering any questions you may have.  In order to better serve our mission, we are introducing a new application process, including a set application deadline of May 1, 2020.  This new process requests key information from all applicants and is intended to require only a small amount of your time, as we recognize that your time is best spent on the services and programs you provide to your communities. 

Below are all of the details for applying to the Foundation by May 1 for support in 2020.  This information can also be found on our web site. Please contact Lynne with any questions about this new process.  You can contact her directly at Lynne@grubencharitablefoundation.org. 

Wishing you a safe, healthy and happy spring!

Best,

Diana Oehrli
Executive Director/Trustee
The Gruben Charitable Foundation

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Gruben Charitable Foundation Application Guidelines

Please note that the Foundation has implemented a new application process beginning in 2020.The Gruben Charitable Foundation is pleased to consider applications from Rhode Island-based organizations seeking support of services and programs that focus on physical, mental, and social well being, with an emphasis on the natural environment and addictive illnesses.  The Foundation will consider applications from organizations whose work intersects with these areas in varied ways. Organizations whose programs align with these areas of interest may submit an application following the guidelines below. The application deadline is May 1, 2020. All applications must be submitted in the form of a single PDF document.  The PDF should be named YourOrganizationName_2020.pdf.  Please include the following information in the PDF:

• Organization’s mailing address, telephone and website

• Executive Director’s name, mailing address, telephone and email

• A brief description of how the work of your organization aligns with a focus area of the Gruben Charitable Foundation: the environment and mental health

• A brief summary of your organization’s mission and programs, including the number of staff and volunteers

• A current annual budget

• A list of current funders

• A brief description of the populations and geographic areas served

• A list of organizations and/or programs with whom your organization partners

• For 2019 grantees, please include a brief summary of how last year’s grant was used

Please send the PDF application as an email attachment.  All applications should be emailed to Lynne@grubencharitablefoundation.org. 

The application review process will take place May through October.  All applicants will receive a response from the foundation no later than November 15.  Please note that organizations that have previously received support from the Gruben Charitable Foundation are not guaranteed future funding.  

Any questions regarding the application process may be directed by email to Lynne@grubencharitablefoundation.org. 

Foundation Brings Internet Addiction Expert to Newport

November 18, 2019

The Gruben Charitable Foundation collaborated with Salve Regina University and Newport Hospital to host a free behavioral health workshop featuring Dr. David Greenfield, bringing his expertise on internet addiction to the local community.

Monday, November 18, 2019, 6:00-7:00 PM
Bazarsky Lecture Hall, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI

INNOVATIONS IN ADDICTION TREATMENT: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ETIOLOGY OF INTERNET BEHAVIORS

Dr. Greenfield discussed issues associated with internet addiction and internet use disorder, explaining how certain aspects of the internet and smartphones promote mood-altering behaviors such as compulsive use and addictive patterns.

About Dr. Greenfield: Dr. David Greenfield is founder and medical director of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. A leading authority on behavioral addiction medicine, he lectures internationally and has appeared frequently on television and in numerous publications.

This workshop continued the Foundation's commitment to bringing cutting-edge behavioral health education to the Newport community, making expert knowledge accessible through free public programming.

Foundation Co-Sponsors Major Addiction Treatment Symposium at Salve Regina

September 9, 2019

The Gruben Charitable Foundation partnered with Newport Hospital and Salve Regina University to present a free, full-day behavioral health symposium for professionals and community members. The event brought together leading experts to share evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment and family care.

Monday, September 9, 2019, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Salve Regina University, Newport, RI

INNOVATIONS IN ADDICTION TREATMENT: CLINICAL AND HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY CARE

The symposium addressed critical topics including addiction treatment, parenting challenges, ADHD, and multi-generational approaches to trauma, resilience, and healing. Attendees received evidence-based knowledge they could immediately put into practice.

Featured Speakers:

• Christophe Sauerwein, MBA, MSc, PgD - Psychologist, psychotherapist, and academic director of the International Conference on Addiction and Associated Disorders

• Dr. Constant Mouton, MD - Director of ARISE® Consulting Europe, medical director at Triora Recovery Centers in the Netherlands and Spain

• Dr. Judith Landau, MD, DPM, LMFT - Child, adolescent, family, and community neuropsychiatrist and president of LINC Foundation

• Patricia Emsellem, MS, LADCI - Chief Operating Officer of SSTAR of Fall River, Massachusetts, and SSTAR of Rhode Island

The symposium provided 5.5 continuing education credits through multiple professional organizations and was approved by the Rhode Island Certification Board. This collaboration reflects the Foundation's commitment to supporting accessible, holistic approaches to behavioral health education in the local community.

Foundation Brings Dutch ADHD Expert to Cape Cod Symposium

September 7, 2019

For the third consecutive year, the Gruben Charitable Foundation partnered with iCAAD and C4 Recovery Solutions to bring European expertise to the Cape Cod Symposium on Addictive Disorders. This ongoing collaboration continues the Foundation's mission to unite US and European knowledge in behavioral and mental healthcare.

Saturday, September 7, 2019, 3:30-4:30 PM
Cape Cod Symposium on Addictive Disorders

WHEN YOU CAN'T KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL: ADHD, ADDICTION, AND NOT LOSING SIGHT OF THE BIGGER PICTURE

Dr. Constant Mouton from the Netherlands presented on ADHD and addiction, exploring the complex relationship between attention disorders and addictive behaviors.

About Dr. Mouton: Dr. Constant Mouton is a psychiatrist and medical director at Triora Recovery Centers in the Netherlands and Spain. Trained in South Africa, he brings the Ubuntu philosophy of "I am because we are" to his work, believing that collaborative approaches access collective resilience and restore human connection. His holistic approach aligns with both addiction treatment and community healing.

This partnership reflects the Foundation's commitment to providing learning platforms without borders, ensuring accessibility to cutting-edge research and best practices in behavioral, mental, and emotional healthcare. Since 2017, the Foundation has served as a Philanthropic and Social Responsibility Partner with iCAAD, supporting the exchange of knowledge between continents.

Foundation Supports Internet Addiction Expert at London Conference

May 6-8, 2019

As part of a three-year partnership, the Gruben Charitable Foundation sponsored Dr. David Greenfield at iCAAD's London conference. The Foundation has been supporting knowledge exchange between USA and Europe, connecting CCSAD's C4 conference at Cape Cod with iCAAD's international conferences to advance the prevention and treatment of behavioral, mental, and emotional health issues.

Monday, May 6, 3:30 PM - Wednesday, May 8, 4:30 PM, 2019
Royal Garden Hotel, London, England

INTERNET USE DISORDERS

Dr. David Greenfield, one of the world's leading voices on behavioral addictions, presented his expertise on internet and technology addiction. His presentation covered the growing problem of compulsive internet use and its impact on mental health.

About Dr. Greenfield: Dr. David Greenfield is the founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He's author of "Virtual Addiction," which provided an early warning about America's growing internet addiction problem. Dr. Greenfield is widely credited with popularizing the understanding of behavioral addiction and the dopamine connection. His work has been featured in major media outlets including CNN, Good Morning America, Time, and The Wall Street Journal. He holds a doctorate in Psychology from Texas Tech University and maintains an addiction medicine practice in Connecticut.

This sponsorship aligns with the Foundation's mission to expand knowledge and advance the prevention and treatment of behavioral, mental, and emotional health issues through international collaboration and education.

$184,000 Gift to Recovery Center Funds Family Support

Image: Lifespan

Since opening last June, the Lifespan Recovery Center has been recognized by state and health care leaders for its unique position to address the opioid epidemic. Operating as a Rhode Island Hospital program, the center provides comprehensive outpatient treatment integrated into a complete medical center for those seeking to overcome opioid use disorder.

Located on Corliss Street in Providence, the center’s team is highly experienced in treating patients struggling with substance use. From prescribing physicians and psychologist services to a program manager, care coordinator and recovery coach, the staff takes a coordinated approach to care. Along with medication-assisted recovery utilizing Suboxone, a low-risk medication that’s an effective medically-supervised method for potentially weaning off opioids, the center offers comprehensive education and support.

“This is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary recovery program that regards opioid abuse as a chronic medical illness,” says Richard J. Goldberg, MD, MS, Lifespan Senior Vice President of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. “We know that if you offer psychological therapies in addition to medication, more patients have a better outcome.” Further bolstering its services, Rhode Island Hospital recently received a generous $184,000 gift from the Gruben Charitable Foundation to fund the center’s Family Education and Support Program. The foundation’s trustee and executive director, Diana Oehrli, is the daughter of Elizabeth “Lisette” Prince of Newport, who together with her children, including sons Guillaume and Regis de Ramel, established The Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute with a transformational gift from The Frederick Henry Prince 1932 Trust.

“My family’s historical philanthropy has always centered on health, so focusing on addiction keeps with that tradition,” says Diana. “Addiction is a painful, chronic disease and I truly believe educating the family is key to helping people get better and halting addiction’s spread to future generations.”

Developed specifically for family and friends of individuals struggling with opioid use disorder, the Family Education and Support Program employs a dual-pronged approach. Patients and their loved ones together attend a weekly group session, learning about addiction, recovery, treatment, and interpersonal dynamics. Separately, family and friends are also provided a group forum to share their experiences and the challenges of supporting someone in recovery. “Family and friends play critical roles in helping individuals with substance use issues enter and remain in treatment—our goal is to empower them in a way that makes a positive impact on the long-term recovery of their loved one,” said Kirsten Langdon, PhD, a clinical psychologist and Director of Behavioral Therapy at the Lifespan Recovery Center.

“We could not be more grateful to Diana for her extraordinary generosity and her commitment to this community health crisis.” Adds Diana, “There is an incredible need to provide comprehensive treatment, and I believe Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan have begun to create a model for addiction recovery medical centers across our country.”

Excerpt: Rhode Island Hospital Breakthroughs Newsletter, 2018

Foundation Sponsors Burnout Expert at Cape Cod Symposium

September 16, 2018

The Gruben Charitable Foundation sponsored international expert Dr. Philippe Wuyts at the prestigious Cape Cod Symposium on Addictive Disorders in Hyannis, MA. The presentation was part of a collaboration between the International Conference on Addiction and Associate Disorders (iCAAD) and the Foundation.

Sunday, September 16, 2018, 9:00-10:00 AM
Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Barnstable, MA

THE HUMAN FIRE EXTINGUISHED – THE RISE OF BURNOUT

Dr. Wuyts explored why burnout is becoming more common around the world. He shared research data and discussed burnout's complex development over time, explaining how chronic stress leads to symptoms and eventual burnout. The presentation also covered important differences between burnout, compassion fatigue, and depression, plus how modern changes like globalization, automation, and technology contribute to rising burnout rates.

About Dr. Wuyts: Dr. Philippe Wuyts earned his medical degree from KU Leuven, Belgium, and trained in psychiatry in Belgium and London. He also holds an MBA from EDHEC Business School. Currently practicing in Paris, he works mainly with international patients including expats, students, and diplomats. Dr. Wuyts led the International Burnout Study for Belgium and has helped develop treatment guidelines for burnout prevention and care.

This presentation supported the Foundation's mission to preserve and improve health through education and compassionate care, recognizing burnout as a critical health challenge facing modern society.

Foundation Sponsors International Experts for Free Public Lectures at Salve Regina

September 12, 2018

The Gruben Charitable Foundation sponsored two international experts to present free public lectures on critical mental health topics at Salve Regina University. The back-to-back presentations brought cutting-edge knowledge on addiction and burnout to the Newport community.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018, 5:00-7:00 PM
DiStefano Lecture Hall, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI

"WHO SAYS I'M AN ADDICT?" (5:15-6:00 PM)

Christophe Sauerwein, academic director for The International Conference on Addiction and Associated Disorders (iCAAD), explored what is known and not yet known about addiction. The London-based psychotherapist challenged pre-conceived ideas about addiction, explaining how the disease develops progressively and manifests in both obvious and hidden ways. He focused particularly on how addiction affects upper social classes and why it can be more difficult for individuals from wealthy backgrounds to get help.

"THE RISE OF BURNOUT" (6:15-7:00 PM)

Dr. Philippe Wuyts examined the global increase in burnout syndrome, linking globalization, automation, and technology as contributing factors. The Paris-based psychiatrist reviewed statistics and discussed burnout's complex development, explaining how chronic stress leads to symptoms that can manifest as compassion fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder.

About the Speakers: Sauerwein holds an MBA and MSC in psychology, specializing in childhood traumatic experiences and complex addictive disorders. Dr. Wuyts earned his M.D. from KU Leuven, Belgium, trained in psychiatry at KU Leuven and King's College London, and holds an MBA from EDHEC Business School. He works predominantly with international populations in his Paris practice.

This event exemplified the Foundation's mission to preserve and improve health through accessible education, bringing world-class expertise directly to the local community at no cost.