Castelloe Family Foundation Establishes Endowed Fund to Support NC State Counseling Center

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for mental health services has been especially crucial. According to the Penn State Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), 65 percent of surveyed college students across the nation reported mental health as an area of their life that COVID-19 had negatively impacted. Others cited lack of motivation or focus, loneliness and isolation, academic performance, missed experiences and opportunities and more.

Blair Castelloe Vanhook (Poole College of Management ’92), a member of the Castelloe Family Foundation, is addressing this crisis by establishing the Castelloe-Vanhook Family Counseling Center Endowment at NC State.The fund provides support to the NC State Counseling Center for mental health initiatives and training, such as those focused on suicide prevention, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, stress management, and others.

Vanhook and her family strongly believe in access to mental health support. When asked why she is passionate about this issue, she said, “As a family, we have been personally affected by mental health challenges. We also know we are not alone — so many families struggle, and we encourage individuals to seek help. We are fortunate to have the means to access support, and we want this fund to help extend the Counseling Center’s reach into the campus.”

“Today’s college students have an exceptional amount of pressure and stressors,” Vanhook continued. “We hope this fund not only provided financial support, but that we can help reduce stigma. There is absolutely nothing wrong with utilizing services such as individual therapy, group counseling and medication. Your health and wellness are critical to your academic, professional and personal success.” 

Monica Osburn, executive director of the Counseling Center and Prevention Services, is grateful for this investment in the center. “There are so many things we want to do for students, but can’t by using student fees and state dollars alone,” Osburn said. “Without private funding, we would never be able to meet some of the unique needs of our students.”

Learn how you can give to the Counseling Center and other programs in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs at https://dasa.ncsu.edu/about/giving/. You can also support the division and its programs on NC State’s Day of Giving on March 24.