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Saturday, January 28, 2012
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Lake County's Voice on Mental Illness
NAMI Lake County offers many benefits, services and valuable information for all persons affected by mental illness; individuals, family members, providers, school personnel, employers, faith communities and community organizations alike. individuals
Browse our website for more information about our programs and services.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported and participated in Strides for Awareness 2011!
2 of the many little ones on the bike path with Mom and Dad coloring Lake ADAMHS mascot Yoomi posters. One of the best parts of the morning was observing everyone having so much fun!
 One of many path sponosr signs... printed with mental illness facts for walkers to read – so we’d be reminded of why we were walking.
We said we couldn’t do it without you!
Talk about awareness… if you haven’t already seen the photo and article on the front page Sunday morning’s News-Herald, please take a few moments to read it!
http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/08/21/news/nh4399938.txtNAMI Lake
NAMI Lake County thanks our walkers, team captains, volunteers, staff, board, members, donors, and sponsors for making this 3rd Annual NAMI Lake County Strides for Awareness event an overwhelming success.
THANK YOU to each and every volunteer who helped throughout the entire process! We surpassed our goal of $14,000 bringing in over $16,348 to date. Walk day supporters brought in a whopping $4848 alone, and pre-walk, many generous individuals donated a total $1250!
Saturday morning started with a blue sky filled with sunshine, and more than 150 walkers turning out with their canine friends, and children - some in strollers, some brought their scooters, all to stroll along Mentor’s scenic bike path.
Banners naming major sponsors Windsor-Laurelwood Center for Behavioral Health Care, Signature Health, and The News-Herald were hung, exhibitors were all set up while people were lining up at the registration table, and sponsor path signs were being placed along the walk route, printed with mental illness facts for walkers to read – so we’d be reminded of why we were walking.
We had lots of fun, especially during the warm-up session led by Jason O’Bryan from Performance One and the free raffles held following the walk.
Children sat with their parents relaxing on the grassy areas and benches surrounding the Municipal Center (Thank You City of Mentor Parks & Recreation) coloring ADAMHS Board mascot Yoomi Posters before and after the walk (I saw some gown-ups coloring too!)
It was particularly fun to just watch folks mingling and getting to know each other, children riding their scooters, picking bouquets of grass and heather for their mom, and petting dogs while getting affectionate licks and tail wags back.
Saturday was truly a heart-warming family friendly morning.
Proud family member and NAMI supporter Camilla D’Andrea from WELW, Kim Fraser from the ADAMHS Board and Steve Topoly from Extended Housing (ADAMHS recipient of the 2011 Consumer Achievement Award) showed a great appreciation for NAMI; they gave their best for the event, welcoming all attendees, thanking NAMI for its dedication and resolving that we should continue to strive for public awareness and understanding of mental illness.
NAMI Lake County was honored to have these guests with us – sincere thanks to each of you! Their donation of time and energy is greatly appreciated by us and definitely appreciated by the crowd!
Team Captains are the heart and soul of our walk.
A heartfelt thanks goes to Windsor Laurelwood Hospital, who in addition to being a major sponsor of Strides for Awareness, hosted a bake sale to raise additional funds. WL Team Captain, Sara November, led her fellow co-workers in raising close to $1000 for NAMI LC – and we hear it isn’t over yet!
Julie Schiavoni, proud NAMI member, walk volunteer and one of the presenting team facilitators for Parents & Teachers as Allies individually raised a tremendous amount of funds for us – once again –a whooping amount of $450! Go Julie! That’s dedication!
As volunteers are the lifeblood of our NAMI affiliate, team captains serve as the vital link between our walk’s mission and encouraging walker participation.
We could not have surpassed our goal without the support of Rae Grady, Team Leader for the Lake County Suicide Prevention Coalition & Crossroads, Sara Wood, Team NEIGHBORING, Mary Barnes, Forbes House Crawlers, Danielle Hinkle, Team Care Bears, Joyce Erbeznik, Team Diva, Ann Zirzow, Signature Health, Bea Barilatz, Supportive Family Friendships, Jill Swanson, Team Murny, Wesley Fernandez, Team Fernandez Family, Alyson Phelan, Team Phelan, Melina & Michael Bennett, Team Cameron, and the Hadden Family Team.
We could not begin to have kept expenses to a minimum without all our loyal donors of goods and services.
Mike Miller, owner of Aladdin Rents in Eastlake and Handy Rents in Painesville, provided us with the canopy tent, tables, chairs, ice chest, and more. He even delivers and picks up - golf day and other wise!
Loyal donors Giant Eagle in M-O-L and the ADAMHS board helped us fill the goodie bags with granola bars and water bottles. Sal Albanese from Dave’s Supermarket (Richmond Heights) made sure there was plenty of water for thirsty walkers, and Linda Corcoran, hardworking and devoted NAMI member made sure there was plenty of ice to cool it!
Thank you to our very generous donors Sheraton Furniture, Vicky Ryan (Essential Bodywear), Gwen Dues (Dues Home Cleaning Services), Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Joe Erbeznik (CPA Nikerzebe Sender & Associates), CT Consultants, Great Harvest Bread Company, Mane Street Hair Design, Indoor Links at Lost Nation Sports Park, CT Consultants, WELW, Melinda Davis, Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Brown-Aveda Salon and the Branding Iron Cookhouse.
Donations from these supportive Lake County business owners enabled us to reward walkers with prizes such as personal tax returns, a make-up kit, a house cleaning, an in-home design consultation, Captains Tickets, Cleveland Air Show Tickets, Tickets to Hilarities Comedy Club, gift baskets filled with food and hair products, children’s books, and gift certificates for home merchandise, a dinner, hair styling, upper body massages, in-door golfing, personal body wear, groceries and gas. WOW!
Strides for Awareness has become a wonderful opportunity for consumers, family members, loved ones, community members, businesses, faith communities and mental health community leaders, and teams to get together.
We celebrate our growing number of sponsors, supporters and participants throughout Lake County who help NAMI LC raise funds and awareness. They use their experience and knowledge to educate others and reach out to those around us with a brain disorder called mental illness – all to help carry out NAMI Lake County’s awareness mission: to support, educate and advocate until no one harbors any misconceptions about these illnesses!
Please help us thank those generous donors listed above and Strides for Awareness Sponsors listed below. As with any noble event, our impact is only as great as our community involvement.
Start to Finish Line Sponsors
Windsor-Laurelwood Center for Behavioral Health CareSignature Health
News-Herald
Stride Sponsors
The Lake County ADAMHS Board
The Lake County Suicide Prevention Coalition
N. J. Petterson, Inc.
Stroll Sponsors
Crossroads, Child & Adolescent Services
Path Sponsors
Western Reserve Counseling Services
Forbes House
Catholic Charities
Extended Housing
NEIGHBORING
Pathways
Diane Eden, MD & Associates
Kathy Vavro, LSW, Another Way Counseling Services
Cardinal Community Credit Union
Allwood & Associates
Nikerzbe Sender & Associates
Faith Community Church
CT Consultants, Inc.
Patricia & William Kohut
Howard Fraim, Retired Key Bank
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YOU'RE NOT ALONE
We are the “safe haven” for those whose journey has brought you to us.
As the blades of grass in the NAMI logo symbolize, we are a grassroots organization comprised of families and individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness.
As the heart in our NAMI Lake County logo symbolizes, we have been through the struggles of mental illness and are here to help others as we were once helped.
HISTORY
NAMI Lake County’s grassroots were established in 1991 as AMI Lake County, an outgrowth of the Families Do Care Foundation; which began in October 1988 as a committee designed to define housing needs for the mentally ill in Lake County. Families Do Care was formed by volunteers, each of whom had a family member with a mental illness. Each also was involved in the support group at NEIGHBORING, Supportive Family Friendships.
In 1991, the AMI Lake County Board developed Bylaws which were approved by the general membership and achieved non-profit status as well as incorporation in the State of Ohio. AMI Lake County then became chartered as an affiliate of NAMI Ohio and the national organization – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. In accordance with a vote of the general membership of NAMI in 2006, each affiliated organization changed their name to become the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI.
MISSION & PURPOSE
In all we do, NAMI Lake County is guided by this Mission Statement:
“To improve the quality of life for consumers living with disabling brain disorders/mental illness and assist their family and friends through providing educational opportunities, support groups, and advocacy in the public arena.”
To mutually respect the unique needs of individuals with serious brain disorders (also known as mental illness) and the impact these illnesses have on family members and other support individuals.
To provide support and encouragement for persons with mental illness on their path to recovery by promoting their full participation within the community.
To educate all those affected by mental illness, including the public, on the nature of these diseases and their treatment.
To provide pertinent local information and referral services.
To combat the stigma that surrounds mental illness through community education programs, public awareness events, fundraising and utilization of local media sources.
To engage in grassroots advocacy for improving services and laws that governs the care of people with mental illness.
ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS:
NAMI of Lake County is registered in the State of Ohio and with the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization.
MONTHLY BOARD AND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Board meetings are open to the public and held the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning at 7 PM, at One Victoria Square in Painesville. For more information call 440-639-1200.
NAMI Ohio
Proudly recognized NAMI Lake County as
“Affiliate of the Year" 2008
NAMI Lake County is proud to be a service provider of the Lake County Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board. For more information on the ADAMHS Network of Service Providers go to www.HelpThatWorks.us
Become a member of NAMI and support our programs.
As a membership organization we rely on the support of our membership to help keep us strong.
Related Files
Membership Form (PDF File)
Strides for Awareness Registration Form (Word Document)
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Lake County
