THE FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE Investing in Excellence
Kearns Family Counseling Endowment Supports Mental Health Services
The world needs artists, storytellers, and scientists to help inform and inspire our communities to tackle the pressing issues facing us today. Interlochen students are ideally situated to meet this need. Thanks to a partnership with the Greenacres Foundation, they can do so. The Cincinnati-based nonprofit and research institution has engaged with Interlochen to produce a feature documentary on regenerative agriculture, an approach to farming that is more in harmony with nature and beneficial to our changing climate. The project will involve all students from the Film & New Media Division as well as interested students from other majors. A new elective course on regenerative agriculture will help students understand the science behind this sustainable approach to meeting our most basic needs. With support of a generous grant from Greenacres, three faculty have been hired to deepen the skills of students to create the film. Students will begin planning and filming in the 2023-24 academic year and complete the project in 2024-25. The completed documentary will be shown at Interlochen and the Greenacres Foundation, and will be entered in film festivals. Greenacres Foundation Inspires Student Documentary
As a crisis counselor in a public high school, Lisa Kearns understands the mental health challenges facing adolescents today better than most. So when Lisa and her husband Andrew’s daughter Charlotte (IAA 18-22; IAC 15-17, 20; IAC St 21-23) made the momentous decision to study theatre at Interlochen Arts Academy— 2,000 miles away from home—Lisa and Andrew encouraged their daughter to take advantage of counseling services if she ever needed them. “We were really comforted by the fact that Interlochen made mental health support a priority from the beginning,” said Lisa. “They were phenomenal and made a huge difference for Charlotte, especially during the stressful college application process.” In appreciation for the support Charlotte received, and recognizing the universal need for greater investment in mental health services, Andrew and Lisa established the Kearns Family Counseling Endowment to ensure that mental health services are always available when Academy students need them. “We are lucky to be in a position to give back to Interlochen,” said Andrew. “When we talked with Interlochen, we learned that there was a real need for additional staff to support Interlochen students as they deal with some of the unique pressures and stresses that they face as artists. Putting additional resources in place—permanently—was a way that we could live out our values.”
“It is great to have a partner to bring to life the research we’ve done. Partnering with Interlochen Center for the Arts will allow us to reach a wider audience and bring attention to the importance of regenerative agriculture through impactful storytelling.”
“We aspire to enhance the well-being of young artists. We want to help them build a sense of self-assurance and comfort within their developing bodies and brains. The ultimate gratification lies in knowing that we have played a role in facilitating a smoother life journey.”
– Carter Randolph, Greenacres President and Chairman of the Board
– Lisa Kearns, Trustee, Arts Camp/Arts Academy Parent
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2023 ANNUAL REPORT
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