Essential Purpose of the Fund
The purpose of the Jonathon Drake Memorial Fund is to support exemplary practice at the individual, school, community and systems levels so that all youth – especially those who face significant personal and emotional and/or behavioral challenges – can thrive.
Who was Jonathon Drake?
Jonathon Drake, MSW, was a tireless advocate for youth – especially youth with emotional and behavioral challenges– and for the professionals who support them. As a Project Director at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, Jonathon worked as a RENEW Trainer, Wraparound Coach, and direct support professional. His outstanding efforts to sustain system-level change and to promote positive opportunities for youth through his trainings for school faculties and mental health agency staff have been lauded by Senator Maggie Hassan, Youth M.O.V.E. New Hampshire, the National Wraparound Initiative, and the National Center for School Mental Health.
A lifelong learner, Jonathon had been pursuing his certification as a school principal when his life was taken far before its time on May 23, 2018. He had candidly expressed that his greatest fear was that everything he had strived for would just end when he died; the Jonathon Drake Memorial Fund, established by his family and colleagues, is an assurance that Jonathon’s legacy and important lifework will continue in perpetuity.
Examples of How the Monies May be Used
- Funding a project that incorporates behavioral health interventions into a multi-tiered system of supports to improve the health and wellness of all youth in a school.
- Building internal capacity to sustain tertiary interventions like RENEW, Check in/Check Out, and Wraparound.
- Empowering inspirational school leaders through training, coaching, and mentorship.
- Creating stronger school-community collaboration and school-to-work training efforts.
- Training youth to be leaders within their schools and communities to promote a positive and inclusive culture.
- Supporting youth who have overcome significant challenges in attending college/university programs or training activities that will prepare them to work in a helping career such as social work, education, or medicine.
Fund Advisory Committee
- Stefanie King, Chair, MAT, PhD Student in Educational Leadership & Policy
- JoAnne Malloy, PhD, Research Associate Professor, UNH Institute on Disability
- Daryll Tenney, MS CFT, MS LCMHC, Program Specialist IV, System of Care Program Manager, Bureau for Children’s Behavioral Health, Department of Health & Human Services
- Kathryn Francoeur, M.Ed, Project Director II, UNH Institute on Disability
- Justin Tilbe, Program Support & Youth Peer Support Representative, Youth M.O.V.E. New Hampshire
- Kristen Haggerty, RN, Catholic Medical Center
Receiving Funds
Public entities, schools, and all tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profits are eligible for grant funding through the Jonathon Drake Memorial Fund. Preference will be given to New Hampshire initiatives. Inquiries about the fund and letters of interest in receiving funds should be sent to jdrakememorialfund@gmail.com. Letters of interest should include the requested amount and intended use of the funds. All letters will be considered by the full advisory committee twice a year on May 1 and December 1.
Make a Donation
On behalf of every person who will benefit from Jonathon Drake’s ongoing efforts through the work of this fund, we humbly thank you for your contribution.
Full Disclosure Statement
To ensure the Jonathon Drake Memorial Fund exists in perpetuity, and to allow every contribution to be tax-deductible, the Advisory Committee has granted fiscal management of the Fund to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. One percent of the total value of the fund will be used annually by the Charitable Foundation to manage the investment assets of the fund, which has historically yielded an 8%-10% return. The Foundation also assumes a 1.1% fee annually for administrative management of the fund.