We received a JWB Community Grant and will be hosting a Spring Family Fun Fest at the Boys and Girls in Tarpon Springs on April 20th from 10a-1p. We already have many fun activities lined up for the kids and resource vendors for the adults. We are excited to give back to one of the communities that has supported us and are hoping that it will be a huge success. We will be posting the flyer soon. If you would like to volunteer, we would be happy to have you make this day a success.
We have connected with the Community Service Officer of the Largo Police Department, and they recently received a grant to support a facility canine for their officers, 911 dispatchers and other staff. The dog will be from a rescue shelter and will be trained as a support dog. The purpose of this dog is to be therapy resource for the staff when they have traumatic calls, which will help them have a successful career to reach a mentally healthy retirement. Suicide rates are very high among First Responders. The Largo Police Department is very proactive in the training of their officers to learn how to interact with someone in a mental health crisis. She will also be at community events and school visits. The funds will come from the Curtis Fundamental Community Fundraiser, Haley Fuhs' memorial donations and Speak Up. Our donation will fund the supplies needed for the dog to be comfortable in her new home (i.e. leashes, crates, beds, training tools, chew toys, treats, harnesses, etc.). The name was chosen before we became involved, and it will be Pension. However, the best part will be that her middle name will be Haley and will be on all her certificates as well as having a harness that will say "In Memory of Haley Fuhs". We reached out to the Fuhs family before we made this decision, and they were 100% in support of having the donations that were made in her memory to be used for this cause. Haley was a beautiful young woman who we lost too soon at the age of 25. She loved animals and we know she would love that Pension will be helping others. We will also be visiting Curtis Fundamental to introduce them to Pension and share with them what their efforts brought to the community. Also, Pension will be making a guest appearance at our Annual Fall Fundraiser.
This next accomplishment was a team effort. As Dawn continues to work with law enforcement, the officers would tell her that it would be helpful if they had a way to identify the call they are responding to may involve someone in a mental health crisis. They are not always told this by the dispatchers. Dawn came up with the idea of a window cling that would serve as an identifier, Heidi came up with a draft of the design and Caleigh Hill came up with the final design and color scheme. We have service marked these with the State of Florida. These decals have no details that would indicate the meaning to the general public, but First Responders will recognize them and will assist with the safety of all involved in the call. Pasco County Sheriff's Department were very supportive of this idea, and we will begin this campaign in Pasco in the next few months. Dawn will be speaking at a Tampa Bay Police Chiefs meeting in the summer to present this to all the Chiefs and we are hopeful they will be as supportive as Pasco. This could ultimately save someone's life and possibly become a recognized sign throughout the state of Florida.
Speak Up was also awarded a grant from the Love IV Lawrence Foundation. This grant is designated to be used for a program we titled "Let's Talk: You Matter" and the funds will be used for program material to work with Pinellas County Schools' High School Students, their parents and community townhall meetings. We are extremely grateful to the Love IV Lawrence Foundation for supporting us for our mission to work with high school students to provide mental health and suicide awareness education and resources.
Due to another grant we received we will be able to again offer a full mental health curriculum to the youth summer camps. It was so well received last year, and we feel fortunate that this summer we can expand our program to four community centers. We will add more art components to the curriculum this year. It is a great way to have the youth express their thoughts without using words.
​
We are also hoping to partner with a local Tarpon Springs business in May to hold a fundraiser with all the proceeds going to a Veteran's Organization that helps our veterans who have served their country achieve better mental health.
SAVE THE DATE: November 9th, Annual Fall Fundraiser. Bigger and Better than last year if that is even possible.
​
We are very fortunate to have received the grants we applied for. The funding boards review the applications with detail and attention to what the grants will be used for and how they can impact the community. It is a testimony to our mission and accomplishments that we have been awarded these additional funding opportunities. Your support continues to offer additional innovative programs we want to bring to our communities. We could not do this without all of you volunteering your time and offering your emotional and financial support.
​
A special thank you to Felicia Mann and Lola's Salon for their willingness to have a raffle basket in their salon on a reoccurring basis. Another shout out to Jen Lane Valk. She has become a huge supporter of our mission in many different ways. I am grateful for her coming into my life and being one of the sincerest giving people that I have met. Thank you to JWB Pinellas for continuing to be an amazing partner as we work to improve the mental health of our youth. Thank you to our corporate sponsors Strata Communications and Handley Automotive.
​
Thank you for taking the time to read our "long" newsletter. There are still so many projects in the works, and we will continue to share what your support is helping us to accomplish. We do this to honor Scott's memory, as well as the others we have lost too soon. We think about them every day and remember the way they lived their lives before they left us.
​
Please follow us on our FB page : Speak Up: Let's Talk About Mental Health Non Profit. This will keep you updated on our activities and ways that you can become involved.
