Title:Longtime MedStar Health donors support endowed positions for Georgetown’s new Thrive Center, plus addiction program

Shelley and Allan Holt have made an investment in the future of children and families in the DC area and beyond with a $6 million gift to Georgetown’s new Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities, a multidisciplinary academic center focusing on child and family mental health, disabilities, health equity, and digital health. Two-thirds of the gift will create endowed positions for the Director of Research and a Rising Professor at the new center. The final $2 million will support innovative new approaches to prevent and treat addiction at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital that is run by Matthew Biel, M.D., MSc, the Marriott Chair of Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and chief of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

“This gift is the latest example of the Holt family’s exceptional generosity as philanthropic partners in our region,” says Biel. “These new endowed positions will support scholarship and innovation in our new Center and will help us to develop the next generation of talented researchers who are working to enhance the health and wellbeing of children and families everywhere. And the Holts’ commitment to supporting on-the-ground clinical strategies to prevent and treat addiction is so valuable as we seek to expand our service to our community.”

‘Exponential impact’

In 2021, the Holts gave $10M to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to support the intraoperative MRI surgical suite in the Verstandig Pavilion. Now they are supporting Biel’s plans.

“We have been impressed by Matt Biel’s amazing vision as well as his outreach to the community—not only the community around the geographical area of the hospital, but also the areas in need throughout the city,” says Shelley Holt. “Allan and I heard him speak about social media and all the pressures that young people face. We want to help him as the center launches because it’s a pivotal time. We think the impact will be exponential.”

Read more about the Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities >