Nonprofits Mental Health

The Band Comes First

From tragedy to 300,000 sessions of hope: Discover how the SIMS Foundation has spent 30 years as the heartbeat of Austin’s music scene, providing a vital mental health lifeline for the creators who define Austin culture. Read how you can help keep the music playing.

Micah Williamson

May 19, 2026

The SIMS Foundation started as a grassroots initiative and has grown into a 30-year lifeline for Austin's music community, delivering over 300,000 mental health sessions to more than 25,000 people in the local music industry.

This article covers the history of the SIMS Foundation, the services it offers, and how you can get involved.

Reading time: 5 minutes

The Need for Awareness and Connection

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May 2026, we are reminded that the beautiful melodies and driving rhythms of our community are often created by individuals silently struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder. Because the weight of these challenges can leave a devastating void in our community, the SIMS Foundation bridges the gap between artistic passion and professional wellness.

The SIMS Foundation offers a lifeline of mental health and substance use recovery services for music industry professionals and their dependent family members. These programs utilize education and community partnerships to provide accessible managed care, reducing the burden of mental health issues and championing the overall well-being of the music community.

At the heart of the mission are the organization's values known as the VIBES framework: Values-Driven, Inclusion, Belonging, Empowerment, and Support. This community-led intentional approach honors creativity and resilience, actively dismantling stigma while providing the compassionate, supportive care our artists deserve.

From Tragedy to Transformation: The Story of Sims Ellison

For a non-profit to achieve true community buy-in, the organization's history must resonate as an extension of the community’s personal story. That's why the SIMS Foundation, an organization of musicians helping musicians, creates a level of trust and cultural competence unattainable at most clinical institutions.

The story of Sims Ellison is the heart of this mission, serving as a powerful reminder that the foundation was built by those who truly understand the people the organization serves. Sims Ellison was a prodigious songwriter and bassist for Pariah, one of Austin’s most acclaimed hard rock bands of the late 80's and early 90's. The band released three studio albums between 1989 and 1993, establishing a substantial fan base. Their discography culminated in the 1993 release of To Mock A Killing Bird, supported by two singles that same year. Pariah landed a deal with Geffen Records, but ultimately fell behind the evolving sounds of the early 90's as mainstream rock shifted from screaming 80's hair metal guitar licks to the flannel-clad new sounds of West Coast grunge. Geffen dropped Pariah from the label, an event that contributed to the mental health burden carried by Sims Ellison, who lost his battle to depression in 1995.

Later that year, Sims’ father, Don Ellison, joined forces with Wayne Nagel, Don Harvey, Alejandro Escovedo, and Walter Taylor to found the SIMS foundation with $5,000 raised at Sims Ellison's memorial service. This grassroots advocacy grew and continues to shape the comprehensive, specialized services provided today across six Central Texas counties.

The Unique Journey of Creators

While music serves as a universal source of inspiration, the individuals who create that ecosystem often navigate a landscape of significant and specialized hardships.

According to the SIMS Foundation website, musicians and other music industry professionals face disproportionately high risks of mental health struggles, driven by the pressures of financial instability, a rapidly increasing cost of living, and grueling travel requirements resulting in isolation from loved ones and other support - all within environments where alcohol and other drugs are readily available.

Battling this unique situation requires a powerful network of professionals and supporters. The SIMS Foundation orchestrates this vital coalition of healthcare providers, volunteers, business leaders, and dedicated music fans. By uniting these diverse voices, the SIMS Foundation provides access to a comprehensive range of mental health and recovery services at little to no cost.

Meet Derrick Lesnau: Leading with Vision and Purpose

At the foundation’s head is Derrick Lesnau, who graduated in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and went on to lead the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas, where he worked for more than 20 years before joining SIMS in 2024. His approach is compassionate and impactful, in direct alignment with the values of the people and organization he serves.

Derrick emphasizes that improving outcomes requires a broad spectrum of care, one that extends beyond the individual. Drawing inspiration from one of Ronald McDonald House Charities' founders, he underscores the philosophy that treating a patient effectively also means treating their family. This belief is a driving force behind the SIMS Foundation’s commitment to assisting the dependents of struggling music industry professionals.

Beyond clinical and family support, Derrick advocates for the fundamental pillars of health: nutrition, exercise, and restorative sleep. Together, these elements form a holistic approach to well-being that can create more positive outcomes for people struggling with mental health issues and addiction.

"I hear this over and over again every time I'm at an event: Sims saved my life."

-Derrick Lesnau

To further empower the community, he recommends Mental Health First Aid training, a certification he holds, which equips people to recognize and respond to mental health challenges. In reflecting on how to support someone who is not well, Lesnau offers a thoughtful perspective. He suggests asking someone how they are doing and being prepared for the answer, ready to give them the space they need to identify their struggle. And he makes a special point of noting that simply letting them speak and be heard is more powerful than trying to fix their problem.

Derrick's focus on intentional, respectful, and kind interactions reflects the SIMS Foundation's dedication to supporting and sustaining healthy outcomes for local music industry professionals and their dependent family members, while exemplifying the leadership needed to sustain the organization's growth.

Join the Movement

Music is woven into the very fabric of Austin. To love this city is to love its incredible music scene, and we all share the responsibility of uplifting the artists who define it. Together, we can ensure the music that shapes our identity never fades.

Support Local Musicians

Click the "Ongoing" tab to make a monthly recurring contribution.

More Ways to Give & Support

The SIMS Circle is a membership program for individual donors who pledge at least $1,000 annually to sustain mental health and recovery services for Austin’s music community. Members receive exclusive benefits, including VIP event perks, invitations to annual SIMS Circle Member Appreciation Events, the quarterly SIMS Circle newsletter, and a welcome packet with SIMS merch.

Hosting a Gig for SIMS is a fundraising partnership that supports mental health services for the music community. By hosting an event, you receive promotional support and resources from the SIMS Foundation based on your fundraising goals.

The Dick Chalmers Music Venue Program (MVP) is a specialized initiative by the SIMS Foundation that provides mental health and substance use recovery services specifically for music venue staff across Central Texas.

The SIMS Foundation also offers six diverse ways to contribute beyond standard donations, ranging from employer matching programs and monthly recurring gifts to legacy giving via wills. Supporters can also donate non-cash assets, utilize employer matches, or dedicate special life events, birthdays, and memorials to help fund mental health services.