MANSFIELD — Ronald Reagan’s reminder “it’s amazing what gets done when nobody cares about the credit” echoed through Tuesday’s ribbon cutting for Danielle’s Lighthouse.
Ohio Department of Behavioral Health Chief of Staff John Annarino said the new home embodies Reagan’s quote. While many hearts were in the room, he said it felt like one beating together to make the project possible.
Danielle’s Lighthouse officially opened its doors as a 10-bed recovery and support-based housing site at 87 East First Street.
The project honors Danielle “Dani” Leedy, whose life inspired her parents, Donna and Jeff Heck, to create the nonprofit 33 Forever.
Honoring Danielle’s life
Donna said when Leedy spent five days in a trauma center at age 22 after an attempt on her life, they sent her home without suggestions or help.
This experience led Donna to set a goal of creating a place where people could go for mental health rehabilitation for three months.
“Immediately after losing Dani at 33, Jeff and I knew her legacy could not be her suicide,” she said. “She lived to help others, her smile lit up every room and she was an amazing life changer.”
When asked to help name the home, Donna said they settled on Danielle’s Lighthouse due to its deep personal meaning.
“In 2018, months before we lost Danielle, we bought a place near Marblehead Lighthouse,” she said. “We FaceTimed, and I told her she would love it there. She never made it.”
A mural in the home shows Danielle sitting in front of the lighthouse. Donna noted she now has made it to the lighthouse.
“So now all our kids have pictures there,” she said.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults in the United States lives with mental illness. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34.
“According to the NIMH, the rate of suicide attempt is 12.5 times higher in the three months following a mental health hospitalization,” Jeff said. “These aren’t just statistics—they are people.”
Jeff noted with hip replacements, strokes or heart attacks, people don’t go home immediately; instead, they go to rehabilitation.
“That is what a home like this can provide,” he said. “Residents will have the chance to get their lives back and thrive.”
Hattie Tracy, CEO of Coleman Health Services, noted Danielle’s Lighthouse also offers a message of recovery, independence and the possibility of a positive future.
“This is much more than a renovation,” she said. “This represents hope, stability and new beginnings.”
The project exemplifies what can happen when a community comes together to address a shared need, she added.
Executive Director of Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Sherry Branham-Fonner thanked the many donors and volunteers who helped make the home a reality.
“It is important to note that a couple of years ago, the board identified a gap in continued care here in Richland County,” she said. “That gap is being filled today.
“Thank you so much for such an amazing community. I have heard at the state level, when I go to meetings, how Richland County is known for its collaboration.”
Making the vision a reality
The Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board oversaw the project’s planning and chose Coleman Health Services to operate the home because of its experience in person-centered behavioral health care.
The supportive housing and recovery site will meet critical needs and serve hundreds of people every year across Richland County.
33 Forever donated a custom mural and art installation, which now anchors the building’s interior with messages of resilience and connection.
The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health donated a 90-percent match for the renovation of the facility, with additional support from other organizations.
Amcrete provided a concrete pad for an outdoor gathering space, and NAMI Ohio contributed $15,000 for landscaping.
(Photos from the Danielle’s Lighthouse ribbon cutting. Credit: Hannah Martin)
