Erika's Lighthouse Receives Largest Gift in Organization's History

 $540,335 award from the Scripps Family Impact Fund will expand free, evidence-informed mental health education for K–12 schools nationwide.  

[WINNETKA, IL (July 21, 2026)] —  Erika's Lighthouse, a leading nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every student has access to quality mental health education, today announced it has received a $540,335 gift from the Scripps Family Impact Fund, marking the largest single philanthropic investment in Erika's Lighthouse's history.

The historic investment comes at a critical time for youth mental health. According to the CDC's most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 40% of U.S. high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. As schools continue to seek effective ways to support student well-being, many still lack access to evidence-informed mental health education that helps students recognize the signs of depression, reduce stigma, and seek help before a crisis occurs.

The gift will support Erika's Lighthouse's Four Pillar Model, a comprehensive framework that helps schools create supportive cultures through classroom mental health education, student empowerment, family engagement, and policy and staff training. All Erika's Lighthouse programs and resources are provided to schools at no cost, helping remove barriers to implementation while equipping educators with practical, ready-to-use tools.

Since 2004, Erika's Lighthouse has partnered with more than 6,200 schools across all 50 states and now reaches more than 1.7 million students each school year through its free, evidence-informed mental health education programs. The funding will help more schools implement the Four Pillar Model while expanding access for students, educators, and families nationwide.

"We are incredibly honored to receive this generous support to help us impact more students nationwide," said Brandon Combs, Executive Director of Erika's Lighthouse. "We're deeply grateful to the Scripps Family Impact Fund for recognizing the life-changing impact of school-based mental health education and for their confidence in our mission. This investment accelerates our vision of ensuring every student has access to quality mental health education. It will help us expand our Four Pillar Model, reach more schools, and equip more educators, students, and families with the knowledge and resources to support lifelong mental wellness."

The award reflects a highly selective grantmaking process. Each year, the Scripps Family Impact Fund identifies a priority area, researches nonprofit organizations across the country, and invites a select group to apply. Following a rigorous review process, three finalist organizations are presented to members of the Scripps family, who collectively direct their philanthropic giving toward the organizations they believe will make the greatest impact.

Erika's Lighthouse was selected as one of the three finalist organizations in this year's giving cycle.

"The Scripps family is rigorously disciplined when identifying its philanthropic partners,” said Alex Bakkum, the family’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, “but rarely have we had so many high-quality service providers from which to choose. Despite this year’s large and competitive field, the directors of the Scripps Family Impact Fund and their generous family members were thrilled to embrace Erika’s Lighthouse because they know this grant will make a meaningful impact on countless young lives."

Erika's Lighthouse's programs are evidence-informed and listed on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center's Best Practices Registry. An independent evaluation conducted by the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work found that students who completed the organization's classroom program demonstrated increased knowledge of depression, greater willingness to seek help, and stronger confidence that a trusted adult could help a friend who was struggling.

Learn more about Erika's Lighthouse's free mental health education programs.

About Erika's Lighthouse

Erika's Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring every student has access to quality mental health education. Through free, evidence-informed programs and resources, Erika's Lighthouse partners with schools nationwide to raise awareness about depression, reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, and promote good mental health. Since 2004, the organization has partnered with more than 6,200 schools across all 50 states and impacts more than 1.7 million students each school year.
For more information, visit erikaslighthouse.org.

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About the Scripps Family Impact Fund

The Scripps Family Impact Fund builds upon the Scripps family's charitable legacy by helping great nonprofits make an even greater impact. Through its annual grantmaking process, the Fund identifies outstanding nonprofit organizations addressing important social issues and supports their continued growth and impact.
Learn more about the Scripps Family Impact Fund. 

Media Contact:

Maggie O’Brien
Marketing Manager
Erika’s Lighthouse
Maggie@erikaslighthouse.org