Dr. Bauer transformed personal tragedy into force for good, as Fund he founded supports critical youth suicide prevention efforts in Midwest, eyes ambitious future goals.
New York, N.Y. – The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation (J. Luce Foundation) is preparing to mark a profound milestone: the Tenth Anniversary of The Bauer Fund.
Born from profound personal tragedy, the Bauer Fund stands as a powerful testament to resilience and community action, having galvanized over 500 supporters to raise more than $100,000 in its first decade. This remarkable effort directly supports vital mental health initiatives, particularly suicide prevention programs targeting young adults in the Ohio Valley.
From Grief to Action: A Father’s Steadfast Resolve
The Bauer Fund was established in 2015 following the devastating loss of Grant Bauer, the son of Dr. William “Bill” Bauer, a retired Marietta College education professor and dedicated mental health professional.
Channeling unimaginable grief into purposeful action, Dr. Bauer, the founding V.P. of
The J. Luce Foundation Board of Directors, spearheaded the creation of the Fund.
Its mission: to prevent other families from enduring similar pain by improving access
to mental health resources and suicide prevention services for vulnerable youth.
“I am so proud of the incredible leadership of my friend Bill Bauer over the last decade,” said Jim Luce, Founder, Chairman & C.E.O. of the J. Luce Foundation. “He took his pain and turned it into a sword to slay the demons of despair. Through the Bauer Fund, he has channeled collective compassion into tangible support, saving lives and offering hope where it’s needed most in the Ohio Valley.”
A Decade of Impact: $100,000+ and Counting
Over the past ten years, the “Bauer Fund Fellows” (B.F.F.’s) – a network over 500 compassionate individuals, families, community groups, and businesses – have contributed an astounding $107,515.
This grassroots support, averaging more than $200 per donor, has directly funded critical grants to organizations providing counseling, crisis intervention, mental health awareness campaigns, and support services specifically tailored for adolescents and young adults in the region.
The Fund has become a cornerstone of the Foundation’s commitment to mental wellness.
“The outpouring of support from the Friends of Grant and the wider community has been truly humbling and deeply meaningful,” shared Dr. Bauer, who maintains a private practice in Williamstown, West Virginia, and volunteers extensively with the homeless in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“Each contribution, large or small, represents a shared belief in the importance of mental health and a commitment to protecting our young people. Grant’s memory lives on through every life touched and potentially saved by these resources.”
Random Acts of Kindness and Fund Raising During Grant Week
The Bauer Fund was established following Grant Bauer’s death on September 5. Each year, the organization coordinates and documents “Random Acts of Kindness” (RAKs) in his memory. In one notable year, the Fund recorded over 5,000 individual acts of kindness. During the Bauer Fund International Week of Giving, the organization has set a goal to raise $25,000 by week’s end.
Annual Grants & Leadership Awards
The Bauer Fund has given grants out each year to individuals and nonprofit organizations, youth group for prevention of suicide, mental health first aid classes, organizations working to help the homeless, and Fountain House in New York, the premier program in NYC for mental health support. The Fund has supported organizations as far away as Honolulu and locally in Washington County, Ohio. The Foundation also recognizes young global leaders who make mental health and homelessness their activities platform.
“It is extremely rewarding to see our work in action,” Bill told The Stewardship Report. “I can only imagine how proud Grant would be watching what we have accomplished in his memory.”
Looking Forward: Anchored in Vision 2050
The Tenth Anniversary coincides with the J. Luce Foundation and its sister charity, Orphans International Worldwide (OIW), celebrating their first quarter-century of service.
At a recent gala event held in the Henry Luce Penthouse of the Asia Society on Park Avenue, Luce unveiled “Vision 2050,” the ambitious long-term strategy guiding both organizations.
This visionary plan includes groundbreaking projects like Dudley Luce College, aiming to deliver an internationally accredited Bachelor of Science degree via smartphone to students in the Global South for under $1,000.
Within this expansive vision, Luce issued a specific challenge related to the Bauer Fund’s vital mission: “I challenge the Friends of Grant and all other supporters of the Bauer Fund who care about mental health and Midwestern youth to help us raise an additional $250,000 over the next 25 years as part of Vision 2050.” This bold target aims to significantly expand the Fund’s reach and impact for generations to come.
Community Cornerstone: Honoring the Bauer Fund Fellows
The enduring success of the Bauer Fund is solely due to the unwavering generosity of its supporters. The J. Luce Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to every individual and organization listed below who contributed between September 2015 and January 2025, helping surpass the $100,000 milestone. This collective effort embodies the power of community in addressing critical needs.
A Decade of Donors: Gratitude and Recognition
“I challenge the Friends of Grant and all supporters of the Bauer Fund who care about mental health and Midwestern youth
to help us raise another $250,000 in the next 25 years,” Luce said. With this renewed call, the Foundation is setting its sights on
expanding programming, enhancing suicide prevention, and sharpening advocacy for youth mental health—locally and globally.
The following individuals and organizations have contributed to The Bauer Fund over the past decade, demonstrating unwavering commitment to mental health and suicide prevention:
2015: Audrey Best, Kimberly Depue, Matthew Fitzsimmons, Ginger O’Connor, Robert Shinn, Jerri Neska, Cody Clemens, Tyler Bates, Wayne Cocchi, Lisa Reed, Art Smith, Kelley Bartlett, Matthew Fitzsimmons, Sandy Kaufman, Alice Beardmore, Codey Roney, Blair Gordon, Natalie Mack, Shannon Porter, Michael Ross, Shaun Stoner, Taylor Myers, Adam Bertram, Bill & Debbie Jones, Megan Krivchenia, William Tuttle, Jason Humphrey, Cathy Mowrer, Miranda Carver, Jayson Hansen, Michael Hanner, Gary Depue, Erik Williamson, Luke Eddy, Michael Gallagher, Anna Bailey, Sherry Coffman, George Buck, Donna Teer, Melissa Ross, Ross Foundation, Andrew Waddle, Douglas Brothers, Corey Schilling, Richard Ciccone, Corey Hunsberger, Li Cheng, Debra Marple, Mycal Leslie, Dalton Fix, Miles Alexander, Ryan Morford, Patricia Wycinski, Deborah Leffingwell, David Hood, Michael Bogan, Norman Cowart, Andrew Elliott, Adam Eichhorn, Ben Zoeller, Lucas Havens, Marietta Community Foundation Hancock Family Trust, Darlene Harris, Deborah Jones, Alan Estep, Thomas Hinkle, Jr., Eddie Tarbay, Jared Deep, Stephanie French, Teresa Jamile, Robin M. Whitesell, Chris Maffris, Scott Nelson, Nicholas Brady, Kevin Paskawych, Marcy Wesel, Jodi Bradfield, Kevin Paskawych, Emily Sellers, Deborah Thomas, Shirley Reynolds, Tunnel United Meth. Church, Tawni & Alan Love, Love Family Fund, Robin Mead, Harold & Joyce Miller, Megan Miller, Grace Fetty, Allison Sells, Jen Desantis, Linda Gorman, David Osborne, Carma Schilling & Bonnie Hendershot, Justin Semple, Shari Ley, John Milone, Darlene Unger, Michael McCreary, Kris Nign, Barbara Semple, Pat & Fred Cloppert, Steve Bauer, Dustin Fukuda, Shawn Williams, Stacey Urbaniak, Theresa Skinner, Barbara Shramo, Eric Sikora, Greg Shilling Memorial, Debora Lazorik, Stacey Urbaniak, Kathleen Perruci, Evan Tsourtsoulas, Joe Webb, Robert Jewell, Jacqueline Romer-Sensky, Barbara Reeves, Karl Biermann (Encana Cares), Wayne Rathyen, OSU Swim Teams, Abraham Sellers, Dana Nakayama, Jim & Barbara Arnold, Pat & Marcia Hood, Bill Hood & Deborah Arnold, Greg & Shelby McCorkle, Stacey Urbaniak, Samantha Kelley, Anita Tenney, Marietta Community Foundation Hancock Family Trust, Steven Swart, Deborah McNutt, Hood-Arnold Charitable Trust, Jim Luce, Brian Moynihan, Bank of America.
2016: Ethan Jeros, Allen Love, Love Foundation, Karen Lutz, Brian Moynihan & Susan Berry, Melissa Ross, Ross Foundation, Dean & Jill Douglas, Dean Douglas, Gregory Miller, Amanda Gilbert, Kelley Sales Team, Adam Steinel, Alexander Hastie, Mary Ella Bauer, Lisa Reed, Kaitlyn Carpenter, Billie Huck, James Borwell, Stacey Urbaniak, William Bauer, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Michael Gallagher, James Piazza, David Hood, Mark Sibicky, Matthew Fitzsimmons, Wayne Cocchi, Gary Depue, Brendan Adkinson, Audrey Best, Pioneer Ladies Civitan Club, Theresa Skinner, Alice Beardmore, Stephanie French, Cody Clemens, Richard Villa, Jennifer Ortt, Mark J. Tasse, Don Harris, Chris Maffris, Ryan Morford, Andrew Waddle, Seth Meinzen, Brian Moynihan, Bank of America, Joe Mama’s Kitchen.
2017: Michael Hanner, Stacey Urbaniak, Richard Simon, Bianca Balarzo, Sara Sauls, Joe’s Mama’s, K.D. Seevers, B.D. Porteus, Ph.D., Brenda Adkinson, B. Peterson, Greg Delemeester, Robert & Janice Brown, Michael O’Connor, Melissa Ross, The Ross Foundation, Kathryn Lachat, Cathy Mowrer, Earl & Bonnie Hendershot, Stacey Urbaniak, Don R. or M. Darlene Harris, Teresa Jamile, Richard & Carol McWhirter, Tyler Bates, Joshua Byers, Megan Krivchenia, Brendon Adkinson, Shaun Stoner, Wayne Cocchi, Brian T. Moynihan, Hell’s Orchard Roller Derby, William & Mary Bauer, Cody Clemens, Warren Middle School Academic Boosters.
2018: Stacey R. Urbaniak, Robert & Sally Shinn, Mary Bauer, Marietta College, Steve Jacobs, Kimberly Davis, Audrey Best, Cody Alderman, Maryann Hurlburt, Adrianne Dorenkott, Joe Momma’s Kitchen, Westley Smith, George Buck, Mark & Jane Eakle, Matthew Fitzsimmons, James Richardson, F. Leslie & Theresa S. James Futrell, Jerry or Judy Boothby, Glen & Jeanette Hale, Cathy Mowrer, The Columbus Foundation, Mariam Keith, Marietta College, Melissa Ross, The Ross Foundation.
Photo courtesy of the Bauer Family.
2019: David J. Hood, Chris Peters, Kimberly Davis, Bonnie Hendershot, Dr. and Mrs. Todd Hawkins, Thomas Hinkle, Shaun Stoner, Ryan May, Robert Nelson, Robert Sellers, Robert Brown, Raquel Ravaglioli, Nicholas Brady, Melissa Reiner, Matthew Unkefer, Matthew Ramey, Marcia Holschuh, LeeAnn Johnson, Kimberly Henderson, Justin Semple, Justin Blumhorst, Jeff Schilling, James Richardson, Caleb Darling, Bryan Banziger, Benjamin Ekelman, Arianne Davis, Davis Resources LLC, Tanya Pucella, SLynn Bostrom, Noah Deer, Kathy Downer, John Groom, Kel Faires, Kolu Buck, Michael Miser, Tyler Moore, Leigh Huck, Diane Ahart-Blair, Tori Overholt, Jean Hardin, Andrew Ryser, Melissa Lake, Deborah McNutt, Linda Roesch, Crystal Moynihan Ricochet, Brett Frye, Frye Dental Group LLC, Gary Chance, Susan Jackson, Charles & Debora Jones, Joe Momma’s Kitchen, Stacey Urbaniak, Tanya Pucella, Laura Wittel, Ann Kaufman, Bradfield, Bill Bauer, Mandy Johnson, Jennifer McCabe, Pasquale Pucella, Stacey Urbaniak, Linda Wetters, Audrey Best, Cathy S. Mowrer, Wendy LaChance, Nancy E. Shaver, The Ross Foundation.
2020: Lenora Lada, Debora Jones, Theresa Skinner, Michele Cortney, Diane Cunningham, Lucinda Arnold, Mindy Sprouse, Mary Ella Bauer, Steven & Hikari Young, Patricia Williams, Audrey Best, Craig Wix Jr., Tyler Bates, Alice Beardmore, Mindy Sprouse, Tammy Waybright, Kel Faires, Melissa Grande, Barb Loy, Jennilee Mohler, Mary Murray, Melissa Lake, Matt Fitzsimmons, Adam Husk, Lisa Reed, Kara Farris, Debbie Jones, Amanda Johns-Beebe, Crystal Adams-Moynihan, Carol Everson Sears, Martha Michael, Joe Mama’s Kitchen, Jerry Muntz, Deborah Smith, Colin & Lindsay Frame, Tina Johnson, Bob Brown, Pam Reynolds, Brenda Floding, Mary Bauer, Stacey Urbaniak, Monica Curtis, Nate Gibbons, Corey James, Robin-Randy Hewitt, Lisa Janetos, Eleanor Dale, Tracey Ryals, Corvette Action & Performance, Misty Tinsley, Lauren Fialo, Patricia Newman, Betty E. Flowers, Bernadette Pillitary, Stephanie McAfee Newell, Jim Foust, Kenzi Cavaluzzo, Tina Johnson, Charles & Debora Jones, William & Mary Bauer, Claudia See, Brian Adkinson, Marah Maayah, Jafar Al Souz, Sidharth Tyagi, Chelsie Consolo, Carmen Salvador Pajarillo, Caleb Manlet, Caleb Hester, Mattew Hester, Leigh Davenport, Barbara Powell, Joyce Kinney, Mitchelle Matesva, Hanya & Nazer Qureshi, Julie Cloud, Chidumebi Alim, Sofia Lapides-Wilson, Madeline DiGiovanni, Sabrina Daoui, Bryan Cloud, Hieronimus Loho, Michael Vetick, Phillip Rowe, Esther Luo, Janet Scagnetti, James Carlson, Kaitlyn Morrone, Amy Crase, Brendan Adkinson, Ohio Teachers Edu. Div., Michelle Casada, Steven & Vicki Bauer, Cynthia Wallace, Charles Lee Koons Pod, Beverly Zimmer, David & Jennilee Mohler, Todd & Melinda Hawkins, Brunswick Media, Matthew Fitzsimmons, Audrey Best, Kathleen Downer, Crystal Moynihan, Matthew Fitzsimmons, Morgan Flynn, Barbara Davenport, Mary Ella Bauer, Ross Foundation, Jeanette Hale, Jane Trautner.
2021-22: Kelly Byrne, Apple, Spring Tobet, Marc Carmosino, Mary Ella Bauer, Martha Michael, Brendan Adkinson, Elaine I. Cooper, Carmela Mutone, John Davis, Kathryn M. Ross, Kathy Conrad Heflin, Tina Johnson, Ryan McNally, Patricia Williams, Deborah Smith, Lindsay S. Frame, Elizabeth Eaton, Tiannan Zhou, Jafar Al Souz, Kirsten Attipoe, Barbara Powell, Emily Adkinson, Janet Scagnetti, James Carlson, Cynthia A. Wallace, Robin & Randall Hewitt, Nancy M. Russell.
2023-24: Kelly Cawley, Darlene Theiman, Kelly Faires, Audrey Delaney Hatch, Anna Marie Offenberger, Hickam Hurricanes Parent Assoc., Chris Hall, Catherine McGlynn, Kelli Cawley, Lisa Larsen, Carol Sears, Matthew Unkefer, Gabriel Rice, Gene Hollins, Darlene Thieman, Christina Amash, Mary Ellen Bauer, Sheena Belt, Steven McLaughlin, Bonnie Hendershot, Ralph Long, Christopher Hall.
2025: Jeremiah Harris, Brady Schilling, Matthew Unkefer, Melissa Lake, Kolu Buck.
Note: This list is maintained by volunteers. If you notice an error, kindly inform the team at info@lucefoundation.org. Thank you!
Sustaining the Mission: How to Support
The need for robust mental health support, particularly suicide prevention for young adults, remains urgent. Contributions designated “The Bauer Fund” can be made online at: http://tinyurl.com/k7qa4wj. Checks payable to The J. Luce Foundation, with “The Bauer Fund” in the memo line, can be mailed to 540 Main Street #418, New York, N.Y. 10044.
Audio Summary (75 words)
The J. Luce Foundation celebrates the Tenth Anniversary of The Bauer Fund, established after the tragic loss of Grant Bauer. Founded by his father, Dr. Bill Bauer, the Fund has raised over $100,000 from 451 supporters for youth mental health and suicide prevention in the Ohio Valley. As the Foundation launches its ambitious Vision 2050 strategy, Jim Luce challenges supporters to help raise an additional $250,000 over the next 25 years to expand this critical lifesaving work.
#BauerFund #MentalHealthMatters #SuicidePrevention #OhioValley #OhioValleyYouth
#JLuceFoundation #Vision2050 #GrantBauer #MentalHealthAwareness #CommunityImpact
#GivingBack #HopeAfterLoss #JLFriendsOfGrant #DudleyLuceCollege #HopeAndHealing
Tags: Mental health, Suicide prevention, Philanthropy, Ohio Valley, Young adults, J. Luce Foundation,
Orphans International, Vision 2050, Community support Bauer Fund, Bill Bauer, mental health,
mental health advocacy, suicide prevention, Dudley Luce College, donor honor roll, Friends of Grant,
Grant Bauer, Marietta College ,charitable giving, community support, Nonprofit, grief transformation,
Honor a decade of hope! Help the Bauer Fund reach its $250,000 Vision 2050
goal. Donate today at http://tinyurl.com/k7qa4wj or mail a check to support vital
youth mental health and suicide prevention programs in the Ohio Valley.
For more information on the Bauer Fund, see:
The legacy continues—join the journey toward hope, healing, and action.
