Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

**The Hogg Foundation’s Origins** The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health was established in 1940. The original $2.5 million endowment came from the estate of Will C. Hogg. Upon his death, his sister Ima and his brother Mike established the Hogg Foundation for Mental Hygiene (the organization’s original name) in his memory. Ima had a simple, yet profound vision of the kind of future she hoped the foundation would help bring into existence: To provide a “mental health program for the people of Texas.” Ima imagined a future in which people with mental health challenges would be treated with respect and dignity, and mental health would be seen as indivisible from all other aspects of a flourishing and healthy life. Over the decades, Texas has made considerable progress in realizing that vision, in no small part thanks to the work the Hogg Foundation and its allies have accomplished. Learn more about our history. **Vision** **All people in Texas thrive in communities that support mental health and promote well-being.** We envision a future in which all people in Texas thrive in communities that support mental health and promote well-being. This means that the extent to which people are connected to resilient communities that support their mental health is not determined by where they live, how much schooling they have, how much they earn, what they look like, what language they speak, who they love, or how they worship; that people feel safe in their neighborhoods and experience a sense of control over their own lives; and that a broad array of institutions, programs, and services are designed with mental health and well-being in mind. **Mission** **To transform how communities promote mental health in everyday life.** Because mental health is not just an individual responsibility but also is a product of community conditions, the places where people live, learn, work, play, and pray can have a significant impact on improving mental health. While mental health conditions can be exacerbated by medical or clinical barriers, such as a scarcity of mental health professionals, many poor outcomes also stem from challenging environmental factors like housing instability, lack of neighborhood infrastructure, and difficult conditions at home, work, and/or school. Mental health should be promoted beyond the walls of health clinics and integrated into our everyday lives– into our conversations, actions, decisions, and responsibilities. Community members, leaders, and professionals– from teachers and preachers, to police officers and judges-–should understand the importance of mental health and the factors that influence it. Children should be supported by their families, teachers, peers, counselors, and administrators in ways that enhance social connection and resiliency. The foundation will take an inclusive approach to supporting mental health in which communities, particularly those that have been historically marginalized or excluded, take an active role in identifying and improving conditions that impact mental health. **Core Values** The Hogg Foundation is guided in large part by Ima Hogg’s vision for a Texas that supports and promotes mental health and well-being. Miss Ima was ahead of her time in believing that mental health was just as important as physical health. She believed all people should have access to community-based resources to support mental well-being and live fulfilling lives. She championed supports for mental health and well-being in everyday environments like schools, workplaces, places of worship, and homes.