Evan D. Gould Memorial Endowment

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For years, Evan Gould struggled with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). At 23, the young man with a gentle smile and a passion for movies, sports and debate had not found a treatment path that truly fit, despite several attempts.

While Evan was open about his illness, he also concealed the depth of his struggles from family and friends. Anxiety that had been manageable during high school worsened in college and was further intensified by the isolation of the pandemic. Outwardly, Evan seemed to be holding things together—attending classes, staying connected with his family and working fulltime. His friends from West Genesee High School in Camillus and the University at Buffalo remember him as a caring, reliable friend who could be counted on both during tough times and for lighthearted fun.

In his effort to manage anxiety and OCD, Evan turned to self-medication, including alcohol and benzodiazepines—sedative medications like Valium or Xanax. This dangerous cycle culminated in tragedy in January 2021, when a benzodiazepine pill laced with fentanyl caused a fatal seizure.

Evan’s parents, Lori and Andrew Gould, and his brother Tyler were devastated. Determined to help others facing similar challenges, they established the Evan D. Gould Memorial Endowment at the Upstate Foundation to support the Addiction Medicine Program at Upstate University Hospital.

Since its inception, nearly $70,000 has been donated, directly funding efforts to increase community awareness about Upstate’s addiction medicine resources and mental health programs—resources the Gould family had tragically not been aware of during Evan’s life but believe could have helped him. In addition to supporting awareness initiatives, these funds have made it possible to host specialized conferences for Emergency Medicine residents and providers focused on substance use disorder (SUD) and education.

The endowment also helps fund the REACH Initiative at Upstate, providing vital continuing education to community-based primary care physicians on SUD, alcohol use disorders (AUD) and co-occurring mental health challenges—ensuring frontline providers have the knowledge and tools to better care for their patients.

The Gould family believes the Addiction Medicine Program's focus on dual diagnosis—addressing both psychiatric conditions and substance use—offers a more compassionate, individualized approach for people like Evan. By honoring Evan’s memory through this endowment, they hope to prevent other families from experiencing the devastating loss of a loved one.

Photo:
The Gould family: Tyler, Evan, Lori and Andrew, enjoying a West Virginia University football game in November 2019. In addition to golfing and outdoor sports, their eldest son, Evan, was a fan of the NY Jets, the NY Yankees and the Chicago Bulls. 

Donate today

• Donate using form below.

• Mail your donation to: Upstate Foundation, 750 E. Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210
  Please note that your gift is to the Evan Gould Memorial Endowment.

•  Contact the Upstate Foundation at 315-464-4416