Russ and Trish Becker, understanding the impact a child’s mental health or chemical dependency needs can have on family finances, donated $250,000 to help start an employee-assistance fund at APi Group this spring.
Russ Becker, CEO of the company, then outlined the plan to the board. Co-Chairs Jim Lillie and Martin Franklin and board member Ian Ashken each donated $250,000 as well. So did Paul Grunau, chief learning officer, and his wife, Jeanie.
Smaller contributions also came in from around the organization to build up the benefit that helps pay up to $10,000 of out-of-pocket costs, depending on income, for mental health and chemical dependency care for employees’ children 28 years or younger.
“If we can help one person get healthy, than this program is a win,” Becker said.
With more than $1.25 million to start, New Brighton-based APi launched the Care Factor Fund on June 1 and is promoting it and other mental health services in conjunction with Suicide Awareness Month.
APi is a collection of industrial companies, with over $7 billion in annual revenue, that provide specialty products and services such as fire and life safety, security. elevator and escalator, and specialty service.
The APi Group headquarters in New Brighton. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Workers are often asked to make long commutes between jobs or to be on the road for extended periods of time, Becker said. The work can be physically and mentally challenging and deadline-driven.
Those stressors and the separation from families can have negative consequences for employees and their children.