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Billionaire philanthropists Stewart and Lynda Resnick quietly stepped into a void left by failing public systems this week, pledging $100 million to expand UCLA’s mental and behavioral health services. The gift — described by UCLA as the largest in the health system’s history — will anchor a new neuropsychiatric hospital and mental health campus aimed at addressing the spiraling crisis affecting families across Los Angeles.
UCLA says the donation will expand the existing neuropsychiatric hospital from 74 beds to 119 and add a new 20‑bed unit specifically for acute behavioral health crises, with the campus slated to open later this year and the crisis unit following next year. That kind of capacity-building is the kind of practical, boots-on-the-ground investment our communities desperately need, not another lecture from credentialed elites.
The Resnicks, founders of the Wonderful Company — the parent behind brands like POM Wonderful, FIJI Water and Halo mandarins — have been heavy donors for years and have a track record of large-scale gifts. Forbes and UCLA reporting note their combined wealth and long history of philanthropy, which critics and admirers alike point to when assessing the real impact of private giving in public life.
Let’s be clear: conservatives should applaud private citizens who write big checks to solve real problems, because government bureaucracies and one‑size‑fits‑all policies have failed our children and neighbors. Mental illness is not a progressive or conservative issue — it is an American one — and the willingness of successful entrepreneurs to fund treatment capacity should be welcomed, even as we demand long-term solutions that strengthen families and restore personal responsibility.
That said, generosity does not immunize donors from scrutiny. The Resnicks and their operations have been accused of environmental and water‑use controversies, and questions about corporate practices and community impacts are legitimate and necessary for accountability. Forbes and business reporting have documented critiques about water consumption and pesticide use tied to their agricultural empire, which means public praise should come with public oversight.
UCLA will recognize the gift by naming the new facility the UCLA Resnick Mental Health Campus, a fitting acknowledgment of a contribution that will help many people if properly managed. Names and plaques should not be the end of the story; taxpayers and patients deserve transparent reporting on how donated funds expand access and improve outcomes, not just glossy ribbon cuttings.
Hardworking Americans don’t want partisan posturing while their loved ones wait for care; they want results. Celebrate the compassion of private citizens, press institutions for accountability, and insist that both public and private sectors focus on real treatment, prevention and family‑centered care — because at the end of the day, saving lives and restoring hope should unite us all.
