A True Gift is Given Only in Love.

We believe everyone deserves a life where they can flourish and thrive, no matter their background.

The Jody Alise Foundation focuses on providing much-needed seed funding to establish resources and services to improve mental and emotional health for youth in Roundup, Choteau, and Dutton, Montana. We know that in order to make a true difference, we must start with a direct focus of our efforts.

Our hope is to bolster the mental and emotional resiliency of youth so that they have the highest opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling life.

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Why We Started

The Jody Alise Foundation is the result of Jody Alise DeBruycker Dahl’s lifelong dedication to giving back. From a young age, thanks to Jody’s parents, Lloyd and Jane DeBruycker, Jody understood the value of doing what she could to help others. Jody believes that a fulfilling life starts with positive mental and emotional health.

The foundation’s core values center around respect, empathy, compassion, and resilience and a belief that a culture that promotes positive mental and emotional health helps youth achieve their full adult potential. We know the ability to establish a higher level of care is dependent on adequate seed funding to establish quality services and programs that passionately enrich the lives of as many youth as possible.

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Statistics on mental and emotional health across Montana

  • According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 20% of children in the United States, ages 3–17, have a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder. (U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Youth Mental Health Crisis Further Exposed by COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019).
  • In February 2021, 35.1% of adults in Montana reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. 17.9% were unable to get needed counseling or therapy.
  • 1 in 6 U.S. youths aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
  • 10,000 Montanans aged 12-17 have depression.
  • Of the 47,000 adults in Montana who did not receive needed mental health care, 48.6% did not because of cost.
  • 573,811 people in Montana live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals.
  • The World Health Organization reports that mental health issues and substance abuse are the leading cause of disability worldwide.
  • According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, some $193 billion per year in workplace earnings is lost due to untreated mental illness.
  • Adults living with serious mental illness die, on average, 25 years earlier than other Americans, largely due to treatable medical conditions.
  • Those who struggle with mental and emotional health issues are at increased risk of developing physical health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
  • NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) shares 51.3% of Montanans age 12–17 who have depression did not receive any care in the last year. 
  • According to NAMI, Montanans are 7x more likely to be forced out-of-network for mental health care than for primary health care, which makes it difficult to find care and less affordable due to higher out-of-pocket costs.(Mental Health in Montana Fact Sheet, NAMI, 2021).
  • According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 20% of children in the United States, ages 3–17, have a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder. (U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Youth Mental Health Crisis Further Exposed by COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019). Those working to address this issue are often underfunded, especially in rural areas. We aim to fund as many of these individuals and organizations as possible through grant funding and other fundraising efforts. Your contribution directly supports the vital work they do. 

About Jody, the founder

Jody DeBruycker Dahl is a global business leader who has successfully and solely developed multiple online global business ventures (Top50 Ranches, Discover Ranches, Natural Trading, Leeloo Trading to name just a few), from initial conception through eight-figures. Jody has expertise across all aspects of business development, from strategic planning to global marketing. Jody looks forward to the Foundation’s opportunity to help provide seed money to set Montana communities to create a real and DIRECT impact for youth within rural Montana.