Shodair Children’s Hospital has announced a major boost to its Hope Campaign with a $250,000 leadership gift from Stockman Bank, becoming the campaign’s Premier Leadership Sponsor. The donation marks a significant investment in the hospital’s mission to provide vital mental health, allied care, and genetic services to Montana’s children — regardless of their families’ financial circumstances.
Shodair is Montana’s only provider of pediatric-specific acute and residential psychiatric treatment. With most patients reliant on Medicaid or other forms of financial assistance, contributions like Stockman Bank’s play a critical role in closing funding gaps and ensuring all children receive necessary care.
“We are truly honored to receive Stockman Bank’s contribution to help Montana kids,” said Craig Aasved, CEO of Shodair. “This is what community partnership looks like — their leadership helps us deliver services to families who need them most, without regard for ability to pay.”
The donation supports several core areas of Shodair’s work, including:
- Expanding access to mental health and genetic diagnostic services statewide
- Enhancing Allied Care programs like art therapy, exercise, and life-skills development
- Strengthening Shodair’s role as Montana’s designated Medical Genetics Program
Bill Coffee, CEO of Stockman Bank, emphasized the importance of community in the decision: “Montana is built on strong, vibrant, healthy communities. That includes ensuring our children can access the mental health care they need. We are proud to take a leadership role in the Hope Campaign.”
Steve Fawcett, Helena Market President for Stockman Bank, echoed the sentiment: “This initiative is crucial. We hope our gift inspires others across the state to support Shodair’s mission.”
Shodair continues to call on Montanans to support its Hope Campaign, which funds mental health treatment, allied therapies, and genetics services for children statewide. Every donation helps transform lives — as Joe McClafferty, Chief Development Officer, put it: “This is an investment in hope and healing. It helps change the trajectory of kids’ lives and gives them the tools to weather life’s storms.”
As part of its outreach, Shodair is also working to make mental wellness easier to talk about — especially for children. One effort is the children’s book The Bison and the Firefly, which follows Thunder the Bison and Hope the Firefly in a story of resilience and support. The book is a tool for sparking conversations about emotional health.
“Mental health touches all of us,” said Kristin Chaney, Shodair’s Marketing and Brand Strategist. “Hope heals — and by learning to ‘thunder on,’ kids can find their way through.”
Stockman Bank, Montana’s largest family-owned community bank, has been serving the state since 1953. With this gift, they’re reaffirming a long-standing commitment to the people of Montana — especially its youngest and most vulnerable.
By: DNU staff