USF College of Public Health’s Dr. Martha Coulter recently established a legacy gift with USF Health’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations to support the USF Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence. These planned gifts are deferred commitments made through one’s estate to ensure that their philanthropic intentions carry on their legacy, long after their lifetime.

The Harrell Center was originally created through a private endowment by James and Jennifer Harrell. Its mission is to develop and integrate knowledge with best practices to strengthen community responses to family violence. It’s designed to conduct and translate research into usable information for practitioners, to provide education and training, and to serve as a resource and advocacy center for the public and professionals.

Coulter, Professor Emerita at the COPH and founding director of the Harrell Center, dedicated her career to improving the lives of families and children. With this gift, she hopes that the Harrell’s mission and research can continue to do more to help victims of family violence and the systemic problems associated with it.

“Next year will be 25 years since I was given the grant funding for the Harrell Center by the Harrell family” Coulter said, “I was the director for 22 of those years right up until I retired. It’s very close to my heart and I feel very strongly that family violence is an issue that is critical to understand and prevent.  It is an underlying problem to a great number of health and mental health issues, as well as a chronic community issue. The pandemic has brought family violence to the forefront of our attention as we recognize the increases in many forms of family violence due to isolation and stress.”

Some family violence issues that Coulter hopes gets more support are in preventive measures, therapeutic interventions and survivor resources once they are out of a violent situation. She also wants more multidisciplinary research that delves into understanding the root causes of family violence.

“There is so much more that the center could conduct if it had more money. In addition to research, they could do more training, consultation and support for community agencies and expand into other areas which is what I’m hoping to do with this gift. I want to help, but to also encourage others to donate as well. I think this is the way we’ll be able to move the center into accomplishing all of its goals,” Coulter said. “While the center has been successful in acquiring research grants and contracts over the years, these are for very specific research projects and there is much need for additional, more flexible funding. For example, helping community agencies to evaluate their programs is a frequent request.”

Coulter also commented on the great current leadership of the Harrell Center, the support of its advisory board members and the ongoing support from the USF COPH and its community which have all helped the center really blossom into what it is today.

“Dr. Coulter made a generous planned gift to support the Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence, for both operating needs and endowment, so that the important work of the Center goes on in perpetuity,” said Kara Steiner, senior director of development and alumni engagement for USF Health Office of Development and Alumni Relations. “As the former director, and a current board member, she understands more than anyone how important funding is to maintain the programs and community partnerships that exist. 

To learn more about making an estate commitment to the College of Public Health, contact Kara Steiner at 813-458-9149 or karasteiner@usf.edu. 

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health