Two community leaders to be honored at 40th Pioneer Celebration on April 30
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Each year at the Bert Nash Center (BNC's) Pioneer Celebration, the organization honors individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the mental health landscape in Douglas County. At this year's 40th annual event, in addition to recognizing two exceptional team members with Spirit Awards, thanking outgoing board members for their steadfast dedication and welcoming new members, BNC leaders will present the prestigious Pioneer Award to David Johnson (pictured left) and the Lyn Smith Distinguished Service Award to Don Grosdidier (pictured below).
The Pioneer Award is given to a leader whose efforts and achievements to secure accessible and comprehensive community mental health services for all Douglas County residents are exceptional and typify the progressive, caring spirit that led to the founding of BNC. As the second Chief Executive Officer of BNC, David led the organization for 17 years with vision, persistence, and a deep commitment to ensuring access to care for individuals and families experiencing mental health crises.
At a time when crisis services were limited and fragmented, David was instrumental in moving Douglas County up a new path, one focused on building a comprehensive, community-based crisis continuum. He understood that emergency rooms and law enforcement could not, and should not, serve as the default response for individuals in mental health crisis.
In addition to system-level change, David was a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and education. In 2008, he became one of the first trained Mental Health First Aid instructors in the United States, bringing this groundbreaking training to Douglas County at its earliest stages. He even testified before congressional staff in Washington, DC about the importance of training public safety officers on how to properly deal with people with mental illnesses.
Under David’s leadership, BNC grew not only in size, but in scope, credibility, and impact. He strengthened the organization’s role as a trusted community partner while remaining deeply grounded in the mission of serving those most in need. His tenure reflected a rare combination of strategic foresight and human-centered leadership. He always kept people at the heart of policy, programming, and progress.
David still has a copy of the newspaper article announcing his appointment on December 16, 2000.
He said, “The first paragraph reads ‘Setting his sights on eradicating the stigma of mental illness and ensuring access to mental health services, David E. Johnson will become the new chief executive at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.’ When I look back, virtually everything we did at Bert Nash advanced those goals.”
“It is indeed an honor to be recognized this year along with Don Grosdidier.” David added.
The Lyn Smith Distinguished Service Award honors a former BNC Governing or Endowment Board member for exceptional service, vision, and leadership. It will be presented to Don Grosdidier, former superintendent of Eudora Schools and BNC Governing Board member. During his time leading USD491, Don worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Eudora residents and ensure that students had every opportunity to live healthy, happy, and productive lives. He served on the BNC Governing Board from 2010-2018, including a year as Chair in 2012, providing critical leadership and forging a stronger partnership with the school district.
As both a former student in Eudora and a district educator, Don witnessed first-hand the myriad ways mental health struggles can prevent children and youth from achieving academic success and pursuing their dreams. Don encouraged both USD491 and BNC to reaffirm their shared commitment to student wellness in Eudora and, thanks to his efforts, countless lives have been irrevocably changed for the better. Don was instrumental in bringing mental health services to Eudora in a way that had never existed before, reducing barriers, and increasing access.
Don reflected on his experience securing a $3.5M federal Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SSHS) grant in collaboration with former BNC WRAP (Wellness, Resources, Access, Prevention) team leader Christina Mann.
“While we had previously partnered with Bert Nash on several smaller grants focused on integrating mental health services into our schools, the SSHS grant significantly strengthened our relationships with these county-based service providers.” he said.
“One of the biggest challenges we faced, however, was the stigma surrounding mental health services. Parents, students, and staff were not always receptive to recognizing the need for these supports. It has been incredibly rewarding to witness the progress that has since taken place in Eudora Schools."
The combined impact of David and Don cannot be overstated and their shared time at BNC leaders afforded them many opportunities to work together in service of mutual goals. They will be formally recognized for their work, alongside other award recipients, in front of an audience of their peers and gathered community members at the 40th Annual Pioneer Celebration on Thursday, April 30 from 5:30-7:30pm at Theatre Lawrence. The event is free to the public and will include a performance by the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble. Registration is required; RSVP here.
Thank you to our generous sponsors for making this celebration possible:
About the Bert Nash Center: Established in 1950, the Bert Nash Center (BNC) serves as Douglas County, Kansas’ designated community mental health center & Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). BNC is the safety-net provider to anyone grappling with mental health or substance use issues - regardless of diagnosis, residence, or financial status. Our mission is to advance the mental health of the Douglas County community through comprehensive behavioral health services responsive to evolving needs and changing environments.
Media Contact: Daniel B. Smith
Community Engagement Coordinator
200 Maine St. Ste A, Lawrence KS 66044
(785)-830-1854
