Fred was the Reverend Fred McKirachan, Joan's husband, in whose honor and memory HAMFT created the Warm Health Fund.  Fred was a Presbyterian minister who was highly committed to personal growth experiences and human relations training, particularly for therapists and clergy.  He was trained in group work and pastoral counseling through the Center for Creative Living and Spiritual Growth in Georgia, and went on to establish an ongoing personal growth program at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church as part of his pastoral ministry there.  He was also a consultant with the Episcopal Church's Association for Creative Change through its local affiliate, Consultant-Trainers Southwest.
 
When Fred died in July of 1988, his close friends and colleagues wanted to remember him in a way that honored his passion and commitment to therapists' ongoing personal development.  The HAMFT Board embraced an idea originated by Bob Stecker and created the Warm Hearth Fund in Fred's memory.  And in fact, it was Bob's wife, Beth Stecker, who had originated the notion of the "warm hearth", so in a way, the fund honored Beth's memory as well.  The fund was established with the purpose of encouraging HAMFT members to engage in continuing education experiences that had an emphasis on personal growth.  Warm Hearth scholarships are intended to be used primarily to supplement tuition and/or workshop fees.