Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation

ABOUT / OVERVIEW The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation is a catalyst for positive change in the lives of those living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is our mission to award grants to organizations and institutions doing work that will have a tangible impact on the field of mental health. Our vision is a better world, where those afflicted with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder might no longer feel the isolation so often associated with the disease. Every grant the foundation awards starts with a single question: “Would this have benefited Sidney?” Our namesake was a member of the well-known family who founded the Stix, Baer & Fuller department store chain. A brilliant businessman who was only limited by his illness, Sidney accumulated a great deal of wealth in his lifetime, but no amount of money was enough to soothe the overwhelming struggles associated with his schizophrenia. When Sidney and his lawyer, George B. Handran, established the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. foundation in 1999, Mr. Handran promised Sidney that the foundation would become Sidney’s enduring legacy. 23 years and $50 million dollars later, this promise has become a reality. In honor of Sidney R. Baer, Jr. the foundation has identified five grant segments where we believe our funds will make the biggest difference for actual people suffering from schizophrenia. Education, criminal justice, reintegration, clinical research, and social support are all aspects of Sidney’s day-to-day where greater access to understanding and resources would have improved his quality of life.