The $2 million endowment gift that my husband and I gave to the University of Illinois for research in the mental health field was a gift given from the heart. Jim Coates should be ashamed of himself for making a mockery of an illness that affects millions of people in our society and around the world.
Mr. Coates’ comment in the Nov. 17 Business section (“Meanwhile, maybe Colbeth’s gift will comfort speculators who now wonder if they shouldn’t see a shrink themselves after shelling out $60 per share”) further aggravates this stigma associated with mental illness. It concerns me that someone in the news media is promoting further mockery of such an important issue to our society.
Unfortunately, his insensitivity mirrors that of many people. We hope our gift can help change the way people view this serious problem. Thank you.
