VIA Donates $50K To Bright Path Center In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN, PA ? The Village Improvement Association of Doylestown (VIA) this week presented a check for $50,000 to the Lenape Valley Foundation to support the construction of Bright Path Center, a new standalone behavioral health crisis stabilization center slated to open in 2026.

"This gift from the VIA is a powerful investment in the health and well-being of our community," said Dave Herold, Chief Executive Officer of Lenape Valley Foundation. "Bright Path Center will be a safe and welcoming place for people experiencing behavioral health challenges. Thanks to the VIA?s generosity, we are one step closer to making this vital resource a reality for the residents of Bucks County."

Located on the grounds of but separate from Doylestown Hospital, Bright Path Center will unite an array of behavioral health crisis services under one roof to deliver acute, trauma-informed, person-centered behavioral health care in a calming environment. The donation from the VIA ? part of its new REACH initiative to facilitate mental well-being in Bucks County ? will help support the final phases of the center?s construction.

From left: Jessica Bollard, Linda King, Sara Moyer, Lillian O?Connor, LVF Chief Operating Officer Kris Thompson, LVF board chair Rob Hutchison, LVF CEO Dave Herold, VIA board president Kathleen Krick, Sheri Putnam, Chanin Walsh, Amy Tielemans, Helen Hammes, Carol Counihan, Pauline O?Brien, Patricia Urban. (Photo by Jamie Kassa)

"Helping make Bright Path Center a reality aligns perfectly with the VIA?s renewed focus on creating proactive pathways to mental well?being in our community,? said Kathleen Krick, President of the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown. "We are proud to contribute to a project that will increase access to and raise awareness of behavioral health resources in our community."

Founded in 1895 by a group of civic-minded women, the VIA focused on improving public health and addressing social needs in Doylestown. In 1923, the group established Doylestown Hospital, becoming the only women's club in the United States to own and operate a community hospital. After Doylestown Health became part of Penn Medicine in 2024, the VIA refocused its efforts on the pressing need for expanded behavioral health services in Bucks County.

Scheduled to open in mid-2026, the 22,000-square-foot Bright Path Center is the first standalone behavioral health crisis stabilization center of its kind in Pennsylvania.

Experienced behavioral health professionals will be available around the clock to welcome, assess, and stabilize people experiencing urgent challenges related to mental health, drug and alcohol use, and/or intellectual disabilities. Designed to reduce emergency room visits and improve outcomes for those in need of behavioral health support, the center will offer compassionate care to individuals and families to de-escalate a critical situation and connect individuals to options for ongoing treatment and community resources.

For more information on the VIA or to become a member, visit www.via-doylestown.org. For more information about Lenape Valley Foundation or Bright Path Center, visit https://www.lenapevf.org.

About Lenape Valley Foundation: Established in 1958, Lenape Valley Foundation provides assistance, compassion, and hope to Bucks County residents regarding mental health, substance use, intellectual disabilities and developmental challenges. A private, nonprofit organization with outpatient offices in Doylestown and Bristol, Lenape Valley Foundation provides individualized, culturally sensitive, compassionate care that supports wellness, recovery, and healing. To learn more, visit www.lenapevf.org or call 215.345.5300.