Robert was the owner of Sutherland Lumber in Boulder and a prominent Colorado philanthropist. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was able to manage his illness in part because of the psychiatric and psychological care he received. He made invaluable contributions to the community, and his generosity continues through the Sutherland Foundation.

Upon Robert Sutherland’s death, his son, Robert Sutherland, Jr. and several close friends established the Robert D. Sutherland Memorial Foundation. In 2001 the Foundation provided an initial grant that established the Sutherland Center; annual gifts have sustained and expanded the Center.

Sutherland Foundation Mission: The Robert D. Sutherland Memorial Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people with bipolar disorder and their families through diagnosis, comprehensive treatment and education.

Sutherland Center at CU: The central focus of the Sutherland Foundation’s work is the Robert D. Sutherland Center for the Evaluation and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder. It is housed in the University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Psychology(CU). The Sutherland Center at CU was established to assist people who are unable (generally due to limited financial resources) to obtain comprehensive psychiatric and psychological services in the community.

From its founding in 2001 through 2009, the Sutherland Foundation has provided over $850,000 to the Sutherland Center at CU. With these funds clinicians at CU, along with contracted doctors in the community, have helped more than 800 people.

For more information on the Sutherland Center at CU, including services offered (psychodiagnostic and psychiatric evaluations, individual and family therapy, psychoeducation group, skills training group, and medication management), please click here.