Musician behavioral health nonprofit celebrates 30 years of service

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The organization dedicated to helping the people keep Austin’s “Live Music Capital of the World” reputation alive celebrated its 30th anniversary on Sunday.

The SIMS Foundation has connected musicians with behavioral healthcare services for nearly 30 years. It started in 1995 after Austin musician Sims Ellison took his own life. 

“The community realized that somebody needed to step up and do something,” said Derrick Lesnau, SIMS Foundation’s CEO. “So in 1995, our founders met that call to action and turned pain into purpose.” 

Since its founding, the organization has helped over 25,000 clients access behavioral health services and invested over $50 million in mental health support and recovery services, Lesnau said. 

The foundation provides 19 types of behavioral health services and covers around 75% of the associated costs. 

“It's not just the musicians and the performers on stage, it's the entire ecosystem,” Lesnau said. “It's the lighting engineers, it's the sound techs, it's the stage contractors [and] the venue staff.”

“We want to make sure that not only for the next 30 years, but for beyond, we can continue to be here for the Austin music community and their dependent family members,” he continued. 

The SIMS Foundation said that the need for its services has risen in recent years, financially straining the organization. In October 2024, it announced it had to suspend services for 90 days. 

Lesnau told KXAN at the time that if it weren’t for the pause, the non-profit would have likely permanently ceased its operations. All 30th anniversary proceeds from ticket sales and donations directly support SIMS Foundation services, Lesnau said.

"It's a continuing challenge," Lesnau said. "We did see a massive outcry for support whenever we put out that call to action," he continued. "We have had some improvements, but our work doesn't stop. And so the need for support continues to be ongoing."

When the 90-day pause was announced in October, musicians relying on the behavioral services were caught off guard.

“On Friday, they sent an email saying we’re going to be stopping services effective November 1,” Dean Seltzer, a local Austin musician, said in late October 2024. “That’s next to zero warning,” Seltzer said.

In December 2024, the SIMS Foundations announced funding from the Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ) and C3 Presents, which helped the organization reach 30% of its funding goals. In February, the nonprofit was able to resume services after reaching its fundraising goals, according to reporting from KUT News.

SIMS Foundation has 711 current clients, according to its website.

“Today is just a recognition of the previous 30 years' worth of support that we've given,” he said. “[And] it’s also a call to action, because as we continue to see the need grow, our need for support continues to grow.”