Rooted in Vail: A Lifelong Commitment
Longtime Vail residents Laine and Merv Lapin have made community service a cornerstone of their lives in the valley. Their latest act of generosity—a significant gift to Vail Health’s Precourt Healing Center—reflects their ongoing commitment to supporting the place they’ve called home for decades.
“By sharing our story, we’re hoping to encourage others to give,” says Merv, expressing their hope to raise awareness on the importance of investing in the community’s well-being.
Merv first came to Vail in 1966, when he took time off to travel across Colorado and ski. After working in ski patrol and outdoor education in Summit County, Laine accepted a consulting position at Beaver Creek in the 1980s and made the valley her home. Eventually, the two crossed paths years later through Merv’s Vail Youth Hockey program that he founded.
Building Community Through Service
The Lapins’ community involvement spans numerous organizations, including Bright Future Foundation, Eagle Valley Community Foundation, EV PROUD Task Force, and Vail Valley Foundation. But their most passionate advocacy focuses on behavioral health care—a cause that is deeply personal for Laine after watching family members struggle with substance abuse.
Beyond their own family’s experience, the couple has witnessed how mental health challenges ripple through the broader community, affecting individuals and families throughout the valley.
Embracing a New Model of Healing
Laine and Merv found hope in Vail Health Behavioral Health’s unique approach to care, combining traditional therapy, holistic modalities, peer support, and clinical research studies. They believe that effective treatment must be comprehensive to address the whole person.
“We are very excited about these integrated approaches, since we know the old model wasn’t working for so many people we care about. What we’re seeing now—clinical care combined with alternative treatments—feels like real healing,” says Laine.
The Lapins hope their philanthropic investment in the Precourt Healing Center, the only inpatient behavioral health facility between Denver and Salt Lake City, Utah, will inspire others to support Vail Health’s patient-centered approach, which is setting a new standard for behavioral health care throughout the region and beyond.
By doing this, we’re hoping to encourage others to give.” Merv Lapin