Ohio State University head football coach Ryan Day and his wife, Nina, have made a powerful statement in support of mental health by donating $1 million to establish the Nina and Ryan Day Resilience Fund.
The fund, part of Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, will support research, services, and programs focused on building mental resilience, especially for young people. For Ryan Day, this cause is deeply personal—he lost his father to suicide at the age of 8. Nina Day has also spoken openly about her own struggles with anxiety, making this initiative a heartfelt mission for the couple.
“We want to help people stay well—not just treat illness,” Ryan said. The fund will help identify mental health risk factors and develop preventive strategies to support long-term wellness.
This isn’t the Days’ first step into mental health advocacy. In 2020, they also established the Ryan and Christina Day Fund for Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Wellness at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson praised the couple’s leadership, saying their gift will help expand access to mental health resources and fight the stigma that prevents people from seeking help.
With this generous contribution, Ryan and Nina Day are using their platform to inspire change far beyond the football field.
