On May 7, nearly 200 guests gathered at Galleria Marchetti in Chicago’s River West neighborhood for The Family Institute at Northwestern University‘s third annual Gratitude Gala. Hosted by The Family Institute’s Board of Directors, the event raised nearly $260,000 to support the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic, which provides no-cost behavioral health services to individuals, couples, and families across the Chicago area.
This year’s gala honored Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles with the Mental Health Community Impact Award, recognizing his leadership and advocacy around mental health in professional sports.
Fostering Mental Health Awareness and Community Support Year-Round
The evening featured a silent auction, entertainment, and a seated dinner, bringing together community members and mental health advocates during Mental Health Awareness Month. Lexi Sutter of NBC 5 Chicago emceed the event, which was co-chaired by board members Lauren Elrod, Katie Lamb-Heinz, and Antonia Warren.
In her opening remarks, Jana L. Jones, President and CEO of The Family Institute, reminded guests that the work of mental health cannot be confined to a single month.
“Mental and behavioral health cannot be confined to one month. It is an essential part of our well-being every single day — just as vital as our physical health, and often more invisible,” Jones said. “It’s not just a job. For many, it’s a calling — rooted in compassion, empathy, and the belief in human potential for healing and growth.”
Jones also expressed gratitude for the Institute’s nearly 200 faculty, staff, and students, and the impact they make through education, clinical service, and research.
A Conversation with Ryan Poles
The evening’s highlight was a candid fireside chat between Ryan Poles and Dr. Jonathan Sutton, Director of The Family Institute’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapies Program.
Poles, who played NCAA Division I football at Boston College before rising through the NFL ranks, became General Manager of the Chicago Bears in 2022. Throughout the conversation, he reflected on how the pressures of professional sports — and the transition to parenthood — deepened his understanding of mental health.
Asked how he protects his own mental well-being, Poles credited his wife, Katie, the Chicago Bears organization, and team president Kevin Warren for fostering an environment where vulnerability is welcomed.
“When you have people around you like that every day, you feel protected, that you can be vulnerable, and that you can talk,” he said. “You can get things off your chest that usually you would keep inside, and I feel like the more you talk and have those conversations, the better mental space that you’re in.”
Destigmatizing Mental Health Care
Poles also discussed his decision to be open about working with a psychologist — a choice grounded in his leadership philosophy.
“You want to model the behavior that you would like to see in everybody else,” he said. “If I’m showing these young men who are playing the sport, as well as my colleagues around me, that I’m taking that step to make sure I’m in a good mental space and I can lead with clarity, then they can be open about that, as well.”
Growing up, Poles said mental health was rarely discussed, even as a student-athlete. He noted the positive cultural shift in professional sports and emphasized the importance of access to support, especially during high-stress moments — like injuries or personal milestones.
One such moment came when his son was born the night before the NFL Draft. As his wife recovered, she shared that she was struggling — a turning point that opened Poles’ eyes to the power of therapy.
“We went through that journey, and it’s a very scary place to be, but that opened my eyes to what therapy can do.”
By the time they welcomed their second child, he said, they both felt more prepared — thanks to open conversations and a strong support network.
A Vision for the Future
Supporting the transition to parenthood is a key focus at The Family Institute, which offers resources to help couples, individuals, and families navigate this important life change, and the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic plays a vital role in providing accessible care. In the last year alone, the Clinic served nearly 1,200 clients, delivering more than 17,000 free appointments across 50 zip codes.
Board Chair E.T. Franklin closed the evening by reflecting on the urgency of the moment — and the Institute’s unwavering commitment to meeting it.
“In an environment where many of the foundational resources that make our society better for all of us are being challenged, The Family Institute has grown stronger and expanded services,” Franklin said. “We are an organization that serves today’s needs, while at the same time being intentional about looking forward.”
For more information about The Family Institute’s programs and services, visit family-institute.org.
How to Help
Your support of The Family Institute makes it possible to provide vital behavioral health services to those who need it most, train the next generation of clinicians, and advance the field of therapy through research. Your partnership helps break down barriers to care and creates a lasting impact for individuals, families, and communities.
Through matching gifts from The Harris Family Foundation and The Make It Better Foundation, your donation to support The Family Institute will be doubled, helping reach even more people. Plus, with administrative costs kept at just 7%, 93 cents of every dollar directly funds critical mental health programs and services.
