What is the Benjamin von Sternenfels Rosenthal Grant for Mental Health Investigative Journalism?

The Benjamin von Sternenfels Rosenthal Grant for Mental Health Investigative Journalism is awarded annually to a gifted journalist who proposes an in-depth investigation into a mental health topic of their choice. The grantee’s project aims to hold a powerful person, institution or government actor accountable for harm or injustice related to mental health or substance use. 

The Benjamin von Sternenfels Rosenthal Grant was launched in 2020 by the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism in partnership with Reveal from the Center of Investigative Reporting. The award honors Ben von Sternenfels Rosenthal, a writer, athlete, devoted son, brother and friend. Ben lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. He took his life in August 2019. 

With this grant, the Rosenthal and von Sternenfels families support powerful stories that help dismantle stereotypes and humanize mental illness. They strongly believe that stories can be transformative, that stories told well and deeply-reported can create understanding and empathy. 

The gift that launched this grant was donated to The Carter Center’s Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism by Ben’s father and Center for Investigative Reporting board member Robert Rosenthal, Ben’s siblings, Adam and Ariella Rosenthal, and Ben’s mother, Inka v. Sternenfels.