(Providence, RI) – On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, Butler Hospital hosted its annual gala, A Masterpiece of Hope at the Omni Providence Hotel. The 2023 Signature Event raised nearly $175,000 for Butler Hospital’s Intensive Treatment Program. 

The Adult Intensive Treatment Unit at Butler Hospital provides compassionate mental health care and support for adults struggling with severe mental illness, including acute major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, in a safe and caring environment. It is not uncommon for people who struggle with psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder, to also have an active dependency on alcohol or other drugs, which the healthcare providers at Butler Hospital are also prepared to treat. 

“The need for mental health services has never been greater, especially after the devastating effects of the COVID pandemic. Each year, I look forward to our Signature Event, where I and many of Butler Hospital’s dedicated caregivers, many of whom have devoted their careers to helping others, get to sit down with supporters to show them the innovative and oftentimes life-saving work we do on behalf of our patients. We couldn’t continue the work we do without the generosity of our supporters, who care about the community as much as we do,” said Mary Marran, MS, OT, MBA, president, and COO, of Butler Hospital.

The Lila M. Sapinsley Community Service Award is named for a late friend of Butler Hospital.
Lila Sapinsley served as a Butler trustee for nearly five decades, including six years as chair of the board.  She was a champion of the hospital’s commitment to teaching and research. Lila took the lead on developing Butler’s affiliation with the Brown Medical School. She also was a terrific fundraiser and helped secure support for Butler. The Board felt it was fitting to establish an annual award to honor Lila’s legacy and recognize an individual who has made a beneficial impact on the behavioral health field.

This year, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse were presented with the Lila M. Sapinsley Community Service Award for being true champions of mental health. As outstanding advocates for those most vulnerable in our community, Senators Reed and Whitehouse have pushed to invest in Rhode Island’s healthcare system for decades. 

Also during the event, Butler Hospital’s President and COO, Mary Marran, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ghulam Surti, presented the 2023 Charles Reppucci Butler Hospital Service Award. The award is named after Charlie Reppucci, who was elected to the Butler Hospital Board of Trustees in 1984, serving as Corporator, Butler Hospital’s treasurer, and chair of its Finance Committee for many years before becoming chair of the Butler Hospital Board. As a philanthropist and leader, Charlie exemplifies the meaning of a true champion for mental healthcare. 

The 2023 Charles Reppucci Butler Hospital Service Award was posthumously awarded to Butler Hospital’s former Chief Medical Officer, friend, and colleague, Dr. James K. Sullivan, in recognition of his many years of service to Butler Hospital.

“Dr. James Sullivan is someone whom we at Butler Hospital miss sorely for more reasons than we can count. During his time with us, he supported our work, introduced the hospital to friends and colleagues, served as an advocate, and who tirelessly demonstrated his passion for the mission of the hospital. He always fought for the health and well-being of everyone he came in contact with. I can’t think of a more appropriate person for this award to go to,” said Marran.

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors, including:
 
Van Gogh Sponsor
Cox Business 
 
Picasso Sponsors  
Navigant Credit Union 
New England Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund 
Jack and Judith Remondi
 
Rembrandt Sponsors  
BankNewport 
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD 
Gilbane Building Company 
Hinckley Allen 
Tony Hirsch 
Johnson & Wales, College of Health & Wellness 
Mary E. Marran, MS, OT, MBA 
Professional Ambulance 
Dave and Jeannine Rogers 
Siena Restaurant Group 
Sodexo

To donate, please visit https://foundation.butler.org/event.

About Butler Hospital 
Butler Hospital, a member of Care New England, is the only private, nonprofit psychiatric and substance abuse hospital serving adults, seniors, and adolescents in Rhode Island and southeastern New England. Founded in 1844, it was the first hospital in Rhode Island and has earned a reputation as the leading provider of innovative psychiatric treatments in the region. The Major Affiliated Teaching Hospital for Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Butler is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in conducting cutting-edge research. For more information, visit butler.org.