News Release

For Immediate Release

For more information contact
Terri Speirs, director of community relations
515-251-6670 or email tspeirs@mindspiritcenter.org

The Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center is awarded $5,000 grant from West Bancorporation Foundation

Geoffrey Gade, West Bank vice president; Jim Hayes, executive director, Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center; and Laurie Betts Sloterdyk, director of development, Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center

September 16, 2019, Des Moines, IA – The Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center (the Center) has been awarded $5,000 from West Bank’s charitable foundation, West Bancorporation Foundation. This funding supports a three-year project to increase administrative efficiencies and client satisfaction through technology upgrades. The project is a one-time, multifaceted equipment and software boost that will annually benefit more than 2,600 children, adolescents and adults in who need high quality mental health services — and 2,400 individuals who need mental health training and education.

“West Bank has been a proud supporter of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center and the good work they do for many years,” said Geoffrey Gade, West Bank vice president, who also serves on the Center’s board finance committee. “The Center fills a need in our community and helps make Greater Des Moines a better place to live.”

“West Bank’s charitable foundation is proud to be a long-time supporter of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center and its mission to improve the lives of Central Iowans through its comprehensive counseling and education services,” said Jill Thompson Hansen, senior vice president/human resources and executive director, West Bancorporation Foundation. “We value our partnership and always know that our funding, whether to directly benefit those services or to support capital investments that create efficiencies and expand capacity, will be put to good use.”

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Since 1972 the Center has offered unique mind-body-spirit approaches to processing difficult life challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, addiction, suicide and other issues. Clients may address their concerns through a variety of techniques at the Center including counseling, psychiatry, spiritual direction, renewal opportunities and educational classes.

“Our clinicians are trained to walk alongside clients through dark times with compassion and skill,” said the Center’s executive director Jim Hayes. “We are tremendously grateful to West Bank for this critical support to our administrative infrastructure that enables us to provide holistic, innovative and effective services.”

“Thank you to West Bank for this generous gift that will benefit the whole community,” said Laurie Betts Sloterdyk, the Center’s director of development. “As a nonprofit organization we are deeply grateful to our steadfast donors who help us make our services not only excellent, but also accessible to the underinsured and uninsured.”

The Center is one of few providers in Greater Des Moines who serves people from all income levels, including those from low-income households who are underinsured or uninsured. This is only possible through generous community support. #

The Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center is a nonprofit organization with a mission to bring understanding, hope and healing to people of all ages through counseling and education. Annually, the Center serves more than 2,600 individuals through holistic counseling and other clinical services (including nearly 700 children and adolescents). Additionally, the Center serves more than 2,400 individuals annually through education and training services.