Southwest Behavioral & Health Services Community Resilience Center Receives New Patio Area Through Local Eagle Scout Project

(PHOENIX – Feb. 12, 2019) – – On Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, Eagle Scout candidate Elias Bunn presented the Southwest Behavioral & Health Services (SB&H) Community Resilience Center with two handmade picnic tables, the result of his Eagle Scout service project. In order to achieve the rank of Eagle, Elias had to earn a minimum of 21 merit badges and show leadership by planning, developing and completing a community service project.

Elias and his team of Boy Scout volunteers built two picnic tables for the SB&H Community Resilience Center in an effort to provide a shaded patio area for center participants. Elias with the help of his advisor made modifications to the design of the tables to install two umbrellas. Elias hosted a garage sale, created a Go Fund Me account, and reached out to family and friends to raise a total of $766.82 dollars to cover the costs which included donated supplies from the Siebert family. A total of 81 hours of volunteer time went into the building and delivery.

The SB&H Community Resilience Center is a day treatment facility that provides cutting-edge services for adults experiencing the effects of serious mental illness, substance abuse and co-morbid disorders. “The goal of our program is to promote resilience and wellness for a healthier mind, body and lifestyle,” said SB&H Vice President of Community Resilience Deborah Woodard. “Our participants work hard and are focused on their care. They will now have a nice, shaded area to rest between services.”

Achieving the Eagle award is of special significance for young men as they enter higher education, business or industry as only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

When asked about why he wanted to earn his Eagle, Elias stated, “I know that becoming an Eagle Scout will help me have a better future. Scouting has tested and pushed me. I’ve learned life skills and had the opportunity to have amazing experiences including hiking 60 miles through Philmont with my dad.”

Elias attends Mountain Ridge High School and plans to graduate in 2021. In addition to scouting with Troop 513, Elias is interested in graphic design, gaming, music, and active in Venturing Crew 1912 of Arizona.

About Southwest Behavioral & Health Services:

Incorporated in 1974 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Southwest Behavioral & Health Services provides services in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, rural Maricopa County, Gila, Mohave, Coconino, and Yavapai counties. Our Mission: “We inspire people to feel better and reach their potential. Through helping people discover their strengths, we improve our communities.” SB&H is a leader in development and delivery of services in the areas of housing, residential care, prevention services, outpatient services to children, incarcerated persons and dually diagnosed adults (SMI/SA). An innovative leader in behavioral health, services are client directed-outcome informed, evidence-based and include treatment of co-occurring disorders, the FAST model in prevention services, the Arizona Treatment Initiative for children and families, and the Recovery Model for persons with serious mental illness. For more information on SB&H, please visit www.sbhservices.org.