Improving Lives and Fighting Stigma
A tragic death inspired the creation of the Charles E. Kubly Foundation, which has helped people with depression for over two decades.
Roughly 16 million Americans suffer from depression –but only one-third of those who do seek treatment.
For those ages 15-19, suicide is the third-leading cause of death. And each year, almost 50,000 people die by suicide in the U.S.
In 2003, one of those deaths was Charles “Charlie” Kubly. The youngest of seven children raised in Milwaukee, Kubly was privately struggling with depression when he died by suicide at the age of 28. In the wake of the tragedy, Charlie’s friends and family came together to create The Charles E. Kubly Foundation (CEKF). It was their hope that they could help others with depression and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Twenty-two years later, the Milwaukee-based nonprofit has now provided over $4 million in grants for nearly 500 projects and is making an impact on mental health in Wisconsin and across the country.
“Our mission is to improve the lives of those affected by depression,” says Kris Rick, The CEKF’s Executive Director and Business Manager.
The nonprofit’s cornerstone event is the annual Beyond the Blues benefit. Charlie loved music, especially classic blues. Every September, which is Suicide Prevention Month, the fundraiser brings hundreds to Discovery World for a casual evening of music, food and drinks to support The CEKF and acknowledge the work of its many grant recipients. “It’s a chance for us to thank our donors, our Board members and our grantees, as we are incredibly grateful and appreciative of how hard they work and support our mission,” says Rick. In 2020, The CEKF created a Young Leader Council to bring awareness to a new generation through activities and events.
THIS YEAR’S BEYOND THE BLUES EVENT IS SEPT. 12 AT DISCOVERY WORLD PIER WISCONSIN. TICKETS GO ON SALE AUG. 1 AT CEKF.ORG.
“ Our mission is to improve the lives of those affected by depression. ”
KRIS RICK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE CHARLES E. KUBLY FOUNDATION
Billie and Michael Kubly, Charlie’s parents, also started the Kubly Family Foundation, which is completely separate from The Charles E. Kubly Foundation. Their family foundation has provided donations for mental health causes and research.
The nonprofit Charles E. Kubly Foundation provides project-based grants. Organizations apply with a goal, budget, measurable outcomes and a time frame for their work. Dr. Jon Lehrmann is the Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Department of the Medical College of Wisconsin. He heads the Foundations’ Grant and Medical Advisory Boards and, along with several other MCW doctors, reviews every grant proposal to ensure the funding will be impactful.
“We’ve got a national problem – it’s severe in Wisconsin. I would say we currently have a tsunami of anxiety and depression,” says Lehrmann. “They are illnesses, and they’re treatable illnesses, and we can help make people better.”
A recent CEKF grant went to REDgen, a Wisconsin nonprofit that provides school-based peer-to-peer
resilience education in schools. Another grant supported Great Lakes Dryhootch, a local mental health organization providing support for veterans. The CEKF’s grant helped Dryhootch create an app that houses resources for veterans and helps them connect to people who can assist in a mental health crisis. The vast number of organizations the Foundation has supported over the years have helped create a collaborative mental health community in Wisconsin. Donors fund the Foundation’s efforts, which otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Supporters can make one-time donations, support the organization’s endowment, or pledge a legacy donation to be given after their passing. “We can move forward together if we come together and support causes like The Charles E. Kubly Foundation that address stigma and help people who are struggling with depression get the help they need,” says Lehrmann. ◆
Charles E. Kubly Foundation
1341 W. Mequon Rd., Suite 220, Mequon 414-477-9959 charlesekublyfoundation.org
