The late Miss Alice Tully was a major benefactor of the arts for whom the concert hall at Lincoln Center is named. She was the first philanthropist to respond to an appeal from HAI founder Michael Jon Spencer who, prior to his founding HAI, was performing piano recitals and lectures for patients in State Psychiatric Centers. Miss Tully’s gifts were made through the Maya Corporation, a foundation she established to facilitate her largesse anonymously. The van Ameringen Foundation later joined Miss Tully with financial support of HAI, and provided grants that enabled Mr. Spencer to provide his concerts to over one thousand patients each week at State hospitals. Click here to hear Mr. Spencer performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #3. By 1968, Mr. Spencer had a vision of creating an organization that would greatly extend his work, and appealed to the New York State Office of Mental Health for assistance. Dr. Bertram Pepper, then OMH Regional Director, and himself a musician as well as a psychiatrist, wrote to the Maya Corporation seeking a one year grant for Mr. Spencer that would provide the time necessary for him to create an incorporated organization, securing a tax exemption and providing ongoing support. Miss Tully again responded affirmatively, providing the pivotal grant matched by six other foundations at the end of the grant period.

On the occasion of its 25th Anniversary seven years ago, HAI held a symposium at the Smith Barney Shearson Conference Center in New York City. Its purpose was to articulate and affirm the impact of HAI over the past quarter century and to address the significant future trends in healthcare and the arts.

On that occasion, Luis R. Marcos, M.D., then Commissioner of Mental Health, said, "I am proud that the Department has been a primary sponsor of HAI from the very beginning. HAI's record over the past quarter century is not only remarkable; it is also unmatched. We believe that HAI's culturally oriented programs improve people's emotional conditions and help reduce so-called indirect mental health costs, which are basically the costs of not providing mental health care."

In 1996, HAI received a New York State Governor's Arts Award for its significant contributions to the State's artistic life. HAI was one of thirteen institutions and individuals to receive the award at an evening ceremony at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Governor George E. Pataki officiated, taking the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the arts as he celebrated the "diversity, creativity and dedication" of the awardees. He noted their help in making New York's "artistic and cultural life the envy of not only the other states but the world as well." The awards are sponsored by the New York State Council on the Arts.

More recently, on September 5th, 2001 at Gracie Mansion, Michael received an award at a "Celebration of Community” hosted by Mayor Giuliani and organized by Catherine Paradiso, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. This event, started in 2000 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, recognizes the achievements of individuals who have devoted their energies to affecting change in their communities.

To put things into perspective, HAI has entertained an audience of over 11,373,500 through 363,200 events since 1969. Included are cultural events at venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, The New York State Theatre, and Broadway and Off-Broadway theatres. It produces special events at neighborhood sites selected for their accessibility, featuring artists such as Glenn Close, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Bette Midler, Margaret Whiting plus others. The HAI Theatre Festival has featured dramatic works by Terrance McNally, Israel Horowitz, Christopher Durang and Louis Delgado, Jr., on substance abuse, mental illness and AIDS. The Summer Program has enabled thousands of frail elderly and physically disabled individuals to enjoy public park performances of The Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic and The New York Shakespeare Festival. Two specially equipped OMNI*BUSES have enabled frail and disabled individuals, some in special stretcher beds, to attend Lincoln Center Out of Doors, The Museum of Natural History and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The DESCRIBE! Program enables theatergoers who are blind or visually impaired to enjoy Broadway and Off-Broadway shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and Les Miserables.

Today, as HAI continues to evolve in response to changing needs, "HAI" can be interpreted as Help Achieve Independence. This concept can be applied to many of HAI's different populations—people with mental disabilities who have been discharged to community care and are in need of support and rehabilitation; homeless individuals and families who are in need of independent living skills to acquire housing and maintain a household; substance abusers who need to develop new skills for a more positive use of leisure time; and for adults and youth at risk of AIDS who need to develop appropriate decision making skills with respect to safer sex.

While Michael has managed to create, maintain and expand HAI, he has also secured the Agency’s reputation as an organization that can mobilize and attract volunteers, artists, and tickets provided at little or no cost, as well as public and private funds for day-to-day operations. He has created imaginative linkages with diverse funding streams from city, state, and federal sources in the areas of the arts, mental health, health, aging, criminal justice, youth services, rehabilitation, housing and substance abuse. What’s more, HAI has an impeccable fiscal and program record with a high degree of visibility for accountability of services provided. Michael has also set a clear mandate for HAI’s continued growth and innovation to creatively harness the healing potential of the arts in response to social and health challenges.

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From the Founder