Gift Clears Way for Behavioral Medicine Center to Construct Outdoor Therapy Center The Mathews family donation continues their support for mental health services. Loma Linda University Health’s Behavioral Medicine Center has received funding to install a new outdoor therapy center. This space will provide the center’s population a place where patients and therapists can use play to develop new approaches to treatment. Alaina Mathews, of Highland, California, and her three adult children collaborated to provide a significant lead gift to support the center’s playground. The Mathews family has a longstanding interest in Loma Linda University Health’s activities, with particular interest in supporting mental health services. “People need to take mental health seriously,” Alaina said. “Physical illnesses are so evident, but when you talk about mental health people often pull the other way.” The Mathews family regularly supports Seeds of Hope, an annual event held to raise money for the Behavioral Medicine Center. Alaina is also a member of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation Board. Alaina’s son, Trevor, is a Christian
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hip-hop music artist; her daughter, Laurena, is a tribal education board member and mother; and her son, Nathan, attends Concordia University Irvine in Orange County During a recent tour of the Behavioral Medicine Center, Alaina was overwhelmed by the number of young patients. Once the need for an outdoor therapy center was explained, she immediately began recruiting her children to add their support to the project. “Those young people need a place to get some fresh air in a safe environment,” Alaina said. “If they feel comfortable outdoors, they are more likely to open up and get more of the help they need.” After hearing Alaina describe the project, Trevor was quick to add his support for the project. He is also a regular supporter of Seeds of Hope, where he is inspired by the displays of self-reflective artwork created by Behavioral Medicine Center patients.
