A $2 million donation from the Yawkey Foundation will benefit the multi-million dollar new child life and adolescent campus at McLean Hospital.
“McLean Hospital’s dedication to improving the lives of youth affected by mental health issues closely aligns with the Trustees’ enduring commitment to broaden access to world-class healthcare,” Alicia Verity, chief executive officer of the Yawkey Foundation, said in a statement. “Bringing together McLean’s clinical programs, research, and education on one connected campus will enable the very best care for its patients and students.”
The 90,000-square-foot new campus will consist of two buildings: the Arlington School — a college preparatory school — and Pathways Academy, a therapeutic school for students 6 to 22 years old diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Chief operating officer Michael Macht-Greenberg clarified that both schools are already operational; the project would relocate them to Zone 4 of the McLean property.
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“Having the support of the Yawkey Foundation — one of Boston’s most respected and enduring philanthropic organizations — underscores the critical importance of this project and the broader need to prioritize youth mental health,” Dr. Scott L. Rauch, president and psychiatrist-in-chief of McLean Hospital, said in a statement. “Our organizations share a deep commitment to improving care for children and adolescents across the region, and we are deeply grateful for the Yawkey Foundation’s support of McLean’s child and adolescent campus—and for their vision, generosity, and longstanding dedication to strengthening the health and well-being of our communities.”
Following a series of public hearings that began in January, the Planning Board voted unanimously on April 8 to approve the design and site plan review. The vote initiated the 20-day appeal period, according to Director and Town Planner Chris Ryan.
As a Dover Amendment project, which — due to its status as an educational institution — essentially exempts the project from certain zoning restrictions, the project was effectively allowed by right. However, its approval came with conditions.
Macht-Greenberg previously said the project is entirely philanthropy-funded. With this donation, the hospital is roughly $2 million short of its $125 million goal. Although construction is not yet underway, he previously said it was expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
