Transforming Infant-Family Mental Health: The Steins’ Landmark $25 Million Gift to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles through the Jewish Community Foundation
The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles is honored to share the news of a landmark $25 million gift in April, 2025 from the Tikun Olam Foundation, established by long-time Foundation clients and visionaries, Mindy and Gene Stein. This transformative philanthropic investment in Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) will establish the Stein Tikun Olam Early Connections Program, a first-of-its-kind, hospital-wide initiative focused on infant-family mental health.
This program is a pioneering advancement in early childhood care and the embodiment of a philanthropic journey that began decades ago, which has grown in depth, impact, and generational continuity through a longstanding and trusted partnership between the Steins and The Foundation.
A Relationship Built on Shared Vision and Trust
The Steins have been valued members of The Foundation family for more than 30 years. Through their Tikun Olam Foundation, which they established here, they have directed giving that is deeply rooted in Jewish values and focused on systemic change, particularly in early childhood wellbeing.
“The Steins embody the essence of what it means to repair the world through philanthropy,” said Rabbi Aaron Lerner, president and CEO of The Foundation. “Their work is visionary, urgent, and deeply humane.”
The seeds of their focus on infant-family mental health were first planted during conversations with Foundation professionals, who recognized both the Steins’ passion for young children and the opportunity for meaningful change in an often-overlooked area of health care. Over time, this mutual dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning helped shape a bold philanthropic agenda – one that has redefined what early intervention and trauma-informed care can look like.
“What’s so remarkable about this gift is not only its size but its scope. It’s setting a new national model for what compassionate, preventative pediatric care can be,” said Naomi Strongin, vice president of The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy. “It shows what’s possible when a family’s vision is supported by deep partnership and trust.”
A Transformational Gift
The Stein Tikun Olam Early Connections Program at CHLA is the culmination of years of investment and partnership at the hospital. Housed within CHLA’s Behavioral Health Institute and the Division of General Pediatrics, the program will provide universal mental health screenings and trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, interventions for every infant and young child, ages 0 to 3, receiving specialty medical care at the hospital. CHLA estimates up to 30,000 families per year will participate in the program. “I hope this topic becomes something that everybody understands and looks at as a crucial part of a child’s development,” said Mindy Stein.
Led by esteemed clinicians, Marian Williams, PhD, and Melissa Carson, PsyD, the program will support infants and their families and build a staff to meet the unique mental health needs of young patients with complex conditions and their families. The program is also designed to scale and CHLA will share this model with children’s hospitals across the country. By focusing on early relational health, reducing the effects of adverse childhood experiences, and promoting health equity, the initiative is poised to change the national conversation around early childhood mental wellness.
A Legacy of Tikun Olam
The Tikun Olam Foundation – aptly named for the Jewish value of repairing the world – has consistently focused on where philanthropy can fill gaps, innovate care, and elevate lives. This latest gift continues a legacy of giving to CHLA and marks a new chapter of impact that will extend for generations.
Also inspiring is how the Steins’ partnership with The Foundation has extended to the next generation. Their children are now actively involved in their family’s philanthropy, carrying forward the values, vision, and priorities that have guided Mindy and Gene.
“We are honored to support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in delivering pioneering mental health care to the youngest patients and their families,” say the Steins. “Through a deep and meaningful relationship with CHLA, as well as an enduring partnership with our philanthropic advisors at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, we are dedicated to supporting programs focused on early childhood development and a model of care to improve the lives of children and their families.”
At The Foundation, we believe that philanthropy is most powerful when rooted in partnership, aligned with values, and informed by deep community understanding. The Stein Tikun Olam Early Connections Program is a shining example of how these principles come together to drive groundbreaking change.
In the News
Los Angeles Times story (2025): Why this LA hospital says infants have mental health needs too
Los Angeles Business Journal Insider (2025): CHLA Gets $25 Million Gift