PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On Thursday, June 18, 2026, Butler Behavioral Health, the community’s leading provider of behavioral and mental health services, hosted the Together We Thrive Gala. The event raised more than $200K to support initiatives that promote the well-being of our valued staff and enhance the overall patient care experience, ensuring that both those who provide care and those who receive it have the resources they need to thrive.
“We are grateful for the generosity of our supporters, whose investment in Butler’s mission helps strengthen the foundation of exceptional care,” said Mary Marran, President and COO, Butler Hospital. “By caring for the people who care for others, we are building a stronger, healthier future for everyone we serve. These funds will strengthen the well-being of our dedicated staff as well as maximize the care and services we provide to our patients and the community.”
This year, Butler honored Steven A. Rasmussen, MD, with the Charles Reppucci Butler Hospital Service Award. Dr. Rasmussen is the past Chair and Mary Zucker Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University. Since 1983, his research has focused on increasing our understanding of the biologic basis and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Currently funded projects include a study of harm avoidance and incompleteness in OC spectrum and anxiety disorders, developing neurosurgical and noninvasive neuromodulatory treatments for OCD, and using anterior capsular DBS and Lesions to understand the role of frontostriatal circuitry in the pathogenesis of OCD. Dr. Rasmussen has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International OCD Foundation for his work, as well as the Pioneer in Radiosurgery Award from the Leksell Society. The author of over 180 peer-reviewed publications, he has been continuously funded by the NIMH for the past thirty years for his work in the treatment of OCD and neuromodulatory treatment for psychiatric disorders.
The Lila M. Sapinsley Community Service Award was presented to the Providence Police Department. One of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States, the Providence Police Department traces its roots to 1775, when night watchmen first patrolled the streets of Rhode Island’s capital city during the Revolutionary War. The department issued its first badge in 1848, instituted daytime officers citywide in 1851, and was formally chartered in 1864—building a proud legacy that spans centuries of service. Today, the Providence Police Department stands as the law enforcement agency covering the third most populous city in New England, serving over 190,000 res¬idents across 20.5 square miles. Guided by the motto Semper Vigilans—Latin for “Always Vigilant”—the department is committed to community policing and forging strong relationships between officers and the neighborhoods they serve. Through investments in modern technology and dedicated personnel, the PPD continues to uphold its mission of protecting and serving with integrity, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of all who call Providence home.
To donate, please visit https://foundation.butler.org/event.
About Butler Behavioral Health
Butler Behavioral Health is Care New England’s comprehensive, patient-centered behavioral health service line that delivers coordinated, evidence-based inpatient and outpatient services at Care New England facilities.
Butler Behavioral Health has its origins at Butler Hospital, a leading provider of compassionate and innovative psychiatric treatment since 1844. Butler Hospital is the largest private, nonprofit psychiatric and substance abuse hospital serving adults, seniors, and adolescents in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.