In recognition of the legacy of Dr. Rudolph Moreira

The Chris Center (TCC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the mental health of young people through nature and human-animal interaction, announced Monday the creation of Rudy’s Fund: Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Rudolph Moreira.

Rudy’s Fund is the result of a groundbreaking donation from Dr. Katheryn “Kathy” Moreira of Noblesville that will enable the organization to expand its programs in Hamilton and Marion counties.

Kathy is the daughter of Dr. Rudy Moreira and sister of Dr. Sandra “Sandy” Moreira, the Chris Center’s co-founder and executive director. Sandy, a Carmel resident, co-founded the Chris Center with Nancy Elbert, also of Carmel, and became executive director in January following Elbert’s retirement. Kathy has witnessed the profound impact of TCC in the three years since its founding and recognized that the organization was at a crossroads – ready to take its programs to the next level. She also knew how much her father, a respected surgeon in Cincinnati who passed away on May 26, 2021, embodied the Chris Center’s mission.

“Kathy is smart enough to know that donations of this size and magnitude that lift an organization are rare for young nonprofits. That’s why she pushed to make it happen and in doing so took the beautiful step of honoring our father’s legacy,” Sandy said. “With this donation, Kathy so generously, graciously and beautifully put together everything that was most important to our father.”

Dr. Rudy Moreira has had a strong connection and deep love for animals throughout his life, as evidenced by the countless stories of rescuing, saving and even sheltering countless injured and stray animals – from dogs and cats to fish and ferrets to goats and geckos. His loved ones describe him as a passionate man with a very soft heart for his animals, and especially at the end of his life, they provided him with much comfort and peace.

The Chris Center’s programs use the power of connecting with nature and animals to improve well-being and teach teens and adolescents important coping skills to build resilience. Its flagship program, the PAWS Therapy Dog Program, is present in seven middle and high schools in Hamilton and Marion counties. There are also alpaca-assisted wellness programs in partnership with Zionsville’s Stone Farms, a Mindful Arts program, and a parent education series in partnership with the Carmel Clay Public Library.

The TCC Board of Directors has set itself the goal of strengthening the organizational infrastructure for sustainable growth by 2024.

“Kathy knew we would need additional resources to drive the strategic planning, fundraising and programming necessary to achieve the growth that will have a lasting impact on our community,” Sandy said. “There is such a great need and demand for our programs, but we cannot grow into new schools. And maintain the highest quality of programming with our current resources. Kathy’s donation will enable us to hire a Program Coordinator at a competitive salary who will help us take TCC to the next level, support sustainable growth, and create a lasting impact.”

Now when someone makes a donation to TCC, they have the opportunity to donate to Rudy’s Fund, which will honor his life and carry on his legacy.