Our Strategic

Partners


These organizations that we have partnered with for several years, share our passion for mental wellness for all. By pooling our resources, we can reach a broader audience and ultimately help so many more people in need.


  • Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness, Anne Arundel County
  • Scholarships for Scholars


Founded in 1902, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) includes a not-for-profit hospital, a medical group, imaging services, a substance use treatment center and other health enterprises. With more than 1,000 medical staff members, 3,900 employees and 750 volunteers, LHAAMC consistently receives awards for quality, patient satisfaction and innovation.


On October 26, 2015, Bo’s mom, Jill DePaola, joined the AAMC Foundation Board of Directors. Jill also served as chair of the Foundation’s Oncology Philanthropy Council.


LHAAMC is putting more of its time, focus and resources towards mental health. When more than half of respondents cited mental health among the most concerning health issue facing the county in a study by the Healthy Anne Arundel Coalition in 2014, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) opened an outpatient mental health clinic in Annapolis.


Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Mental Health Specialists now provides a full range of mental health services for patients ages 13 and older. Services include counseling and therapy as well as medication compliance consultations and help for substance use problems and other serious and persistent mental illness.


LHAAMC is proud to support Bo’s Effort as another way to further the conversation around the treatment of mental illness.


Bo's Effort Funds New Mental Health Position at LHAAMC

In November 2016, Luminis Health Anne Arundel County Medical Center hosted a reception celebrating the achievements of Bo’s Effort in the mental health community. Bo’s Effort presented LHAAMC with a check for $35,000 to fund a new position – a Behavioral Health Navigator – in LHAAMC’s Emergency Department. The Behavioral Health Navigator helps patients alleviate barriers and ensure connection to community-based behavioral health providers.

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Bo's Effort Presents Check to LHAAMC Towards New Mental Health Hospital

In February 2019, Bo’s Effort visited the construction site of the new Anne Arundel Medical Center mental health hospital and proudly presented a check for $150,000. This facility opened in 2020 and serves up to 900 patients a year. It provides a full spectrum of mental health services for both inpatient and outpatient care.

Bo's Effort Attends Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Mental Health Hospital They Helped Fund


Bo's Effort was incredibly honored to be invited to the ribbon-cutting of LHAAMC's new mental health hospital – The J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center.


This facility features a 16-bed adult inpatient unit and a partial hospitalization program for 34 adults and adolescents. We have been looking forward to the opening of this hospital for quite some time and are extremely happy to have been a part of it. We can't thank everyone enough for your contributions over the years to support mental wellness! We know this hospital will fill a much needed void in our community. Congrats, LHAAMC!

Bo's Effort Announces LHAAMC Mental Health Nursing Scholarship Fund Endowment


In May 2023, Bo's Effort presented a $100k check to LHAAMC for their nursing scholarship fund.  This will provide a nursing scholarship every year – helping to train generations of nurses in the field of mental health and in turn – adding an invaluable component to our community!


We look forward to our involvement with this program and the stories of the dedicated nurses we are able to help as they continue their educational journeys in the mental health field.

After searching far and wide for the right type of support, Bo’s parents, John and Jill DePaola, came upon National Alliance on Mental Illness, commonly known as NAMI.


NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. They provide support, resources, advocacy, and education for raising awareness, fighting stigma and inspiring hope.


John and Jill had found great solace and understanding through NAMI’s Family-to-Family 12-week free course. It was during week 11, a week before their graduation and just as they were starting to gain clarity around what was truly going on when Bo went to heaven.


NAMI Anne Arundel County (AAC) is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the quality of lives of individuals affected by mental illness and providing support for their family, friends and caretakers.


NAMI AAC offers advocacy, education support and training—all free of charge. The organization is made up of volunteers, many of whom are caregivers for their sons, daughters or other family members. Their desire is to give back to help others families suffering with mental illness issues live better lives.


NAMI AAC is in full support of Bo’s Effort and ready to help in any way. For more information on NAMI or to gain access to any of their free educational programs, visit www.nami.org.


Bo's Effort Makes First Donation to NAMI, AAC


In November of 2016, Bo's Effort made the first of several annual donations to NAMI, AAC to fund their extremely important educational programs.

Bo's Effort Presents Inaugural Bo DePaola Award for Excellence at First NAMI Gala

October 2018, John and Jill DePaola present the first Bo DePaola Award for Excellence to Kate Callahan.  

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2024 NAMI AAC Gala

Bo's Effort's Katie DePaola Silverman and Adam Silverman present Robin Wallace with the Bo DePaola Shining Star Award at this year's NAMI AAC Gala.

Robin is the Site Coordinator for the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center’s Psychiatric Day Hospital. Robin has the warmest welcome possible and she is a huge advocate for our community. No matter where she goes, she brings her great sense of duty to always help those in need. Coming to mental health treatment is often scary. When someone like Robin takes the time to welcome you, build a relationship with you, and support you – patients experience the benefits of looking forward to their treatment and care.

Bo's Effort Proud to Attend and Sponsor Annual NAMI Walks


What was once a small gathering of family members and advocates in the state of Maryland has now grown into the nation's largest and most successful grassroots fundraising campaign, taking place in 120 locations across the country.


Bo's Effort is proud to sponsor such an uplifting event that raises funds to power NAMI's life-changing free programs and fuel awareness for their cause.

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