How a Boston Family Foundation Is Redefining Mental Health Advocacy

When it comes to the national conversation around mental health, one of the most influential voices is not coming from Washington, New York, or Los Angeles — it’s coming from right here in Boston.

The Ruderman Family Foundation, a leading Boston-based philanthropy, is at the forefront of a growing movement to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health. Through its annual Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion, the Foundation is shining a spotlight on public figures who use their visibility to champion inclusion, spark conversation, and make vulnerability part of the public dialogue.

This year’s recipient, renowned designer and activist Kenneth Cole, joins a star-studded list of past honorees who have used their platforms to change the way society talks about mental health and inclusion. That list includes the likes of Selena Gomez, Michael Phelps, Kevin Love, Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, Andrea Bocelli, and former U.S. SenatorTom Harkin, to name just a few.

“It represents everything,” said Jay Ruderman, the Foundation’s president. “My father, Morton Ruderman, who launched the family’s philanthropic legacy, was born in Malden, and so was I, but the Foundation has always proudly called Boston home. He founded our organization on the idea of fairness and giving people a chance in life. When he passed away, we wanted to keep that spirit alive by recognizing individuals who truly make a difference in inclusion. In more recent years, we’ve narrowed our focus to mental health because people facing those challenges are still too often stigmatized and ostracized. The award keeps his legacy alive by celebrating those who elevate the conversation.”

A Legacy of Advocacy

For Ruderman, Cole was a natural choice. “Kenneth Cole has always been ahead of his time,” he said. “He was talking about HIV and AIDS in the 1980s when almost nobody in the business world would touch that issue. He’s done the same now with mental health, especially in the workplace. And what’s so powerful is that he’s done it while building a hugely successful company. He’s shown that social advocacy and business success can go hand in hand.”

Ruderman explained that the selection process for honorees is careful and collaborative. “It takes about a year,” he noted. “We look around the world to see who’s using their voice to make a real impact. There’s a committee, we discuss a dozen or so names, and we ask: who’s not just talking about inclusion, but living it? Almost every honoree has been deeply personal in their advocacy, and that authenticity matters.”

Cole’s authenticity, Ruderman said, stood out from the start. “In the business world, you sometimes see people attach themselves to social issues because it’s trendy or calculated. But with Kenneth, it’s real. His advocacy is just as much a part of who he is as his work in fashion. It’s deeply personal for him and that makes him a perfect fit for this award.”

A Movement That Crosses Industries

The list of honorees reflects the Foundation’s broad approach: the belief that inclusion and mental health advocacy transcend professions, politics, and industries. "If you look at the names—Selena Gomez, Michael Phelps, Kevin Love, Eva Longoria, Andrea Bocelli—they come from completely different worlds,” Ruderman said. “But what connects them is courage. They’re not afraid to speak out about personal struggles, to show vulnerability, and to use their platform to help others. They’ve made it okay for people to say, ‘I’m not okay, and that’s human.’”

He pointed to Gomez’s Apple TV documentary as a turning point in how celebrity openness has shaped the public’s understanding of mental health. “Selena’s documentary shows her at her most vulnerable, and it’s incredibly powerful,” he said. “It helps normalize the experience. So many people think they’re alone in their struggles, but seeing someone admired and successful share that pain, it opens a door. It says this is part of life, and it’s okay to talk about it.”

Even the award itself is designed to inspire generosity. Honorees receive a $100,000 grant and can choose to accept it personally or direct it to a nonprofit organization. “Almost every single recipient gives it away,” Ruderman shared. “Kenneth will, too. They use the award to strengthen their own advocacy or to support causes that align with the work they’re doing. It’s a cycle of giving, recognition that fuels more impact.”

Boston: A Hub for Mental Health Leadership

Though its reach is international, the Ruderman Family Foundation’s heart, and much of its work, remains deeply tied to Boston. Jay Ruderman grew up here, attended university and law school locally, and raised his family in the area.

“Boston to me is home,” he said. “There’s such a powerhouse of knowledge here, universities, hospitals, thought leaders. We’ve been able to build partnerships with institutions like Brandeis, Boston University, and Mass General Hospital, and those collaborations have helped us create real models of change.”

The Foundation’s partnerships with leading universities across Massachusetts—including collaborations with institutions such as Boston University, Northeastern, and Harvard—have helped shape national models for supporting student mental health. Its joint efforts with the Boston Red Sox have elevated conversations around mental well-being in sports, while its ongoing work with schools and faculty training programs statewide is reshaping how educators and administrators approach student resilience and inclusion.

“When I was in school, mental health wasn’t something you talked about,” Ruderman said. “It was stigmatized. If you were struggling, you hid it. Now we’re helping schools change that. We’ve made it easier for students and faculty to be open and supported, not isolated.”

Pride and Perspective

For Ruderman, Boston’s character and culture (serious, innovative, and compassionate) are central to the Foundation’s success. “You have to be proud of where you’re from,” he said. “My dad always believed success is part hard work and part luck, and that no one gets anywhere without help from others. That sense of gratitude and giving back has always been part of our DNA.”

He continued, “Boston is about education, hard work, and community. It’s a city that values substance. When we tell people we’re from Boston, there’s instant respect. And I think people see that same authenticity in our work. They know it comes from a place of purpose, not performance.”

That combination of authenticity and ambition has turned the Ruderman Family Foundation into an undeniable national force; one that’s helping to change the way America talks about inclusion and mental health, from classrooms to corporations.

“What’s powerful about this award,” Ruderman added, “is that it brings all those worlds together—business, entertainment, academia, sports—around one shared idea. Inclusion means visibility, and visibility saves lives.”

As Kenneth Cole prepares to receive the 2025 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion next spring, Boston can take pride in knowing that one of its own foundations is leading a global movement. One proving that true change starts not in boardrooms or on red carpets, but in communities built on compassion, conviction, and courage.