Mental health, much like physical health, is something we all have in common. Where one person experiences back pain, another lives with depression and anxiety. That's why I'd like to take a moment to recognize someone who has devoted her career to destigmatizing mental health and strengthening our communities.

Over the last 26 years, Joni Schwager has been more than just the executive director of Staunton Farm Foundation. She has been an advocate, a voice and a driving force for change.

Since Schwager joined the foundation, she's overseen approximately 872 grants totaling roughly $32 million in the city of Pittsburgh alone. Under her leadership, Staunton Farm Foundation became one of the first funders to invest in criminal justice diversion by funding Allegheny's Mental Health Court; created the Rural Behavioral Health Conference, bringing together professionals and advocates to engage with hundreds of like-minded community members in the mental health fields; partnered with the Pittsburgh International Airport in its mental health awareness campaign to reduce the stigma around mental health; advocated for and implemented the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; and so much more.

With her retirement at the end of this year, Schwager leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to behavioral health and substance use advocacy. Thank you for your service in making our community stronger, more understanding and more supporting of behavioral health for all.