The U‑M Depression Center was the world’s first comprehensive center established to fight depression and associated stigma on all fronts. It has since helped inspire the creation of 32 additional depression centers across the U.S. and Canada, building an international network to accelerate progress. At U‑M, a $10.75 million gift to the Depression Center from alumni Frances (ABEd ’64, TeachCert ’64) and Kenneth (AB ’64) Eisenberg and family is accelerating the development of personalized treatments necessary for conquering clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and related illnesses. In addition to creating abundant support for researchers, the gift established the Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Professorship of Depression and Neurosciences, held by psychiatrist Srijan Sen.
The Eisenbergs weren’t alone in their mission. When Waltraud “Wally” Prechter lost her husband, auto industry mogul Heinz Prechter, to suicide in 2001, she resolved to fight the stigma that led her husband to hide his bipolar disorder. With a new commitment of up to $5 million from the World Heritage Foundation Prechter Family Fund, she expanded the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program and committed to matching every dollar given to U‑M bipolar disease research up to $5 million. Prechter’s commitment effectively doubles the value of every donation, making the gift available to researchers faster as others joined in to support the cause. Prechter’s total gifts to the program total more than $10 million.
