Becky Pickle appointed CEO of Huntsman Mental Health Foundation

Salt Lake City’s Huntsman Mental Health Foundation has announced the appointment of Becky Pickle as its new CEO. The Huntsman Mental Health Foundation supports the Huntsman Mental Health Institute in its mission to transform mental health care through community, research, clinical and education initiatives.

“With an extensive background in philanthropy, entrepreneurship and advocacy, Becky brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to mental health initiatives,” the foundation said in announcing Pickle’s appointment.

Christena Huntsman Durham, chair of the foundation’s board, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Becky Pickle as our new CEO. I’ve seen Becky’s impact firsthand in how she collaborates with teams and encourages and mentors individuals. Her dedication to making a positive impact in our communities, coupled with her leadership skills and passion for mental health advocacy, make her the ideal candidate to lead our foundation into the future.”

Pickle is the founder of the Becky Pickle Family Foundation, which supports initiatives aimed at uplifting communities. She has worked with elected officials for over 15 years to establish policies addressing homelessness, affordable housing, mental health access, suicide prevention, affordable child care and support for first responders. She owned and operated a multi-unit restaurant franchise that also engaged in philanthropy, giving out over $500,000 in college scholarships and donating over $3 million in dollars and food to Utah schools and over 40,000 meals to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Pickle received Business Woman of the Year awards from both the South Jordan Chamber of Commerce and South Valley Chamber of Commerce, along with being honored as Business of the Year and South Jordan Community Champion of the Year. She currently serves on the board of directors of Loveloud and Encircle, the ULead steering commission and the SafeUT Frontline Commission. She is the past president of the board of trustees for The Road Home.

“I wake up every morning driven by the opportunity we all have to shape the future of mental health and recovery,” said Pickle. “It is a profound honor to spearhead a foundation dedicated to raising funds in order to accelerate the extraordinary work of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute’s esteemed leaders, doctors, researchers and others who are tirelessly working on monumental and life-saving endeavors. I am grateful to the Huntsman family for their unprecedented financial investment, visionary outlook, and bold leadership in the mental health and substance use disorders space.”