Upon his return from the Vietnam War, Bob Parsons battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for decades—and while doing so, grew a small software business operating out of his basement into the powerhouse internet domain registrar and web hosting company GoDaddy. From humble beginnings to becoming an entrepreneurial billionaire, nothing came easy for Bob. He talks openly about his mental health struggles following the war, and how, by 2018, just a mention of the war could trigger him to cry. Time was not healing his wounds. As Bob recalls, “I couldn’t handle it. The longer time went on, the worse it got for me.” Around this time, he read the New York Times best-selling book How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan and a glimmer of hope appeared for him. Bob developed an interest in the scientific use of psychedelics to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

“My own battle with PTSD lasted for decades,” says Bob, United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “It was psychedelic-assisted therapy that finally brought me home after all those years, and even with the FDA’s recent decision, we’re digging in and funding more research because I have all the evidence I need—I know it works.”

Bob is referring to the 2024 decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withhold approval for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. While it would not be surprising if donors shied away from supporting this nascent scientific field, Bob and his wife Renee, who helped establish Mount Sinai’s psychedelic psychotherapy research center in 2021, recently made a second foundational gift of $5 million.

“We are hopeful that the innovative research and training being done at Mount Sinai will go on to transform the lives of veterans and others who endure debilitating mental health conditions,” says Renee. “Bob and I know firsthand the detrimental impacts of PTSD—not only on the individual but on the entire family. We remain committed to battling the stigma surrounding mental health and shining a light on such promising treatments.”

Bob and Renee have focused some of that light here at Mount Sinai. Under the direction of internationally acclaimed researcher Rachel Yehuda, PhD, the Center has expanded and moved to a new location, increasing capacity for therapy, research, and therapist training, with a primary focus on veterans. It is now being renamed The Parsons Research Center for Psychedelic Healing to acknowledge the couple’s deep commitment to improving the lives of veterans and others struggling with PTSD.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 17 veterans die by suicide each day on average. “New treatment options are desperately needed for the millions of people, both civilians and veterans, who have mood and anxiety disorders such as PTSD and major depression,” says Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System.

Adds Dr. Yehuda: “This is an existential moment for the field of psychedelic research in mental health, and The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is shining a light on a path forward. With their vision and commitment, and the continued generosity of our donors, we will meet the needs of the moment.”

In his recently published memoir, Fire in the Hole! Bob shares how he turned his hardships into motivation, from his mother’s mental illness to his harrowing yet transformative experience in Vietnam. A poignant and humorous storyteller, Bob reminds us that true wealth is not solely measured in financial terms but in the kindness and generosity we share with others. He discusses his healing process and his decision to donate funds aimed at impacting PTSD. For Bob and other veterans, sharing their stories is a continuation of their military service, fulfilling the promise of the soldier’s creed: I will never leave a fallen comrade.

His journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the importance of giving back.

This year, as the Phillips School of Nursing celebrates its 120th anniversary, one family’s enduring legacy of support shines brighter than ever before. The Phillips-Green family has a multigenerational connection to Mount Sinai and its mission of providing health care and education to underserved communities. In the 1880’s, the Lower East Side was home to nearly a quarter of a million Jews and other immigrants living in one square mile. Moses Phillips, along with 39 other immigrants, met to discuss the need for health care for community members who did not meet the residency requirements imposed by local hospitals. At that time, most of the city’s hospitals would not treat patients who had been in the city for less than a year. The 40 immigrants each contributed 25 cents to establish the first Beth Israel Dispensary, which opened on Madison Street in 1890.

Very quickly, the demand for services grew and the recruitment of nurses became a necessity. In 1902, the Beth Israel School of Nursing was founded, and in 1904 the school was accredited by the New York Board of Regents as an educational institution. At that time, nurses in training also provided service at the hospital.

As the dispensary rapidly outgrew its cramped quarters, Moses’ son, Isaac, led a building committee to raise money for a new hospital building and in 1922, Isaac Phillips laid the cornerstone for a new Beth Israel Hospital at East 16th Street. Isaac’s son Seymour Phillips continued the family’s commitment to both the hospital and the school of nursing and in 1984, the school was named in his honor because it was Seymour who fought to keep the school open in the 1980s when it was in danger of being closed for lack of funding.

“The story of the Phillips School of Nursing is that of immigrants serving their new community of other immigrants,” said Seymour’s granddaughter, Janet Green. “At first they donated energy and ideas and vision. It was what they could afford to do. Later, when they could do more in the realm of major philanthropy, Seymour and his wife Madelyn; my mom Carol; and my uncle Lawrence, gave generously, quietly, and without fanfare.”

Janet’s mother, Carol Green, continued this family tradition of support until her passing at the age of 91. Throughout her lifetime, Carol was instrumental in the school’s growth and success, joining the hospital’s Board of Trustees in 1988. She became a powerful advocate for the Phillips School of Nursing, carrying her father’s torch to ensure its sustainability and prominence over the years. With her brother Lawrence, Carol established a scholarship fund to benefit nursing students. But perhaps one of the most significant acknowledgements of Carol’s commitment was reflected in her decision to include a meaningful contribution to the school in her estate plans, thereby supporting the school beyond her lifetime. And Carol’s bequest coincides with a milestone moment for the school.

“My mother’s tie to Beth Israel, which is now part of Mount Sinai, was one of family history and heart,”

says Janet, now Co-Chair of the Board of PSON. Honoring her mother’s memory and their family’s bonds to PSON spanning three centuries, Janet recently established a new nursing scholarship. With this gift, she hopes to inspire others to support the Phillips School of Nursing during this special anniversary year.

“Health care and health care education have tethered my family’s giving for over a century. Philanthropy as a family project is something people can really be proud of.”