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Family gift honors veterans’ journey through recovery
Published on October 17, 2025
The inaugural Knott Family Bridging Ceremony: THRIVE Program CEO Jason Mihalik, participant and retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Denise Singleton and THRIVE Chief Medical Officer Shawn Kane, who served for 26 years in the U.S. Army as a physician. (Photo by Sam Rodriguez)
Knott Family Foundation provides vital support to UNC’s THRIVE Program.
With a gift to the Transforming Health and Resilience in Veterans (THRIVE) Program, siblings Virginia “Fifi” Leachman ’09 and David Knott ’08 and their mother, Virginia Knott ’72, of the Knott Family Foundation have endowed the Knott Family THRIVE Program Bridging Ceremony.
The ceremony celebrates the accomplishments of veterans and first responders as they complete THRIVE’s intensive outpatient program. Through this celebration, participants have a chance to share personal testimonials of their experiences in the THRIVE Program in front of their family members and friends. This gift not only honors these individuals but also ensures vital resources are available to support their participation.
The THRIVE Program, part of the Matthew Gfeller Center in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences, was established with a $12.5 million gift from the Avalon Action Alliance during the Campaign for Carolina and provides care for veterans, first responders and active-duty service members experiencing traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress or related disorders.
“THRIVE helped me considerably,” said THRIVE participant Denise V. Singleton, retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant. “There was a marked improvement in my mental, emotional and physical health in a relatively short time frame. Because of the quality and magnitude of this program, I am now a strong advocate for veteran empowerment. My THRIVE teammates and I were able to share our experiences here without the fear of criticism or being stigmatized. We have formed a community of camaraderie and trust.”
“We are incredibly impressed by the work of the THRIVE Program,” Leachman and Knott shared. “It has been inspiring to hear the testimonies of the THRIVE participants and their family members of how impactful their experiences have been in completing the intensive outpatient program. The deep appreciation of our veterans and first-responders for receiving help to overcome significant challenges and begin a journey of living a healthier life is palpable.”
“The Knott family’s generosity is deeply meaningful to all of us at the THRIVE Program. By endowing the bridging ceremony in their family’s name, they are not only honoring the strength and resilience of the veterans and first responders we serve, but also the legacy of their beloved husband and father,” said Jason Mihalik, CEO of the THRIVE Program and director of the Matthew Gfeller Center. “This gift ensures that each graduate of the program is celebrated with dignity and purpose — something that will stay with them long after they leave our care. We are honored to carry the Knott family name forward in this way.”
“By endowing the Bridging Ceremony, the Knott family is helping us honor the strength and service of veterans and first responders while supporting a program rooted in interdisciplinary excellence and compassionate care,” said Jim White, Craver Family Dean. “We are deeply grateful for the Knott family’s commitment to this important work.”
After her bridging ceremony, Singleton noted that, “Oftentimes, female veterans get lost in the transition from military service to civilian life. The military quickly breaks you down to rebuild you, but some of us are just left broken! So, we need programs like THRIVE to help us face daily challenges in a structured and meaningful way. Personally, my time with clinical psychologist Dana Lebo has been the most impactful. She helped me take a deep dive into my traumas and address my moral injuries and invisible wounds. Consequently, I learned that female veterans are disproportionately affected by PTSD, major depression and anxiety which can lead to suicide. It is a cry for help!”
The Knott Family Bridging Ceremony gift follows on the heels of the establishment of the David M. and Virginia C. Knott Distinguished Visiting Professor of the Practice in Carolina’s peace, war and defense curriculum, endowed in 2019 with a gift from Virginia C. Knott and her late husband, David M. Knott.
By Andy Berner, UNC College of Arts and Sciences
Campaign for Carolina Impact!
The THRIVE Program, Craver Family Deanship and David M. and Virginia C. Knott Distinguished Visiting Professor of the Practice were all established during the Campaign for Carolina, which raised more than $5 billion for students, faculty, research and patient care at UNC-Chapel Hill. Explore more Campaign for Carolina impact here.
