Each year over 10,000 individuals are helped through a variety of mental wellness services offered by the Mental Health Association throughout Monroe County and surrounding counties. Children, adults and families are helped to find mental wellness discussions, peer relationships, special creative endeavors—such as the Art Education Groups----and in many other ways---empowering each person to find balance in his or her life. In turn each person becomes a better adjusted, more productive person in all of their daily activities.
One such person is Deb Ballare. Deb is a 45 year old single mom with 2 children. (That's all 3 of them in the picture!) Deb, diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, came to our Better Days Ahead Family Support Network (BDA) as a volunteer looking for a way to become involved in the community. It wasn’t long before she realized that BDA was a support program that helped parents of children with emotional or behavioral challenges. Deb began to express concern over her 3 year old son, Sammy, who wasn’t talking yet. She knew this wasn’t normal due to her experience with her 8 year old daughter Mina. When Deb mentioned she was having difficulty getting the school to test him, it caught the attention of a Family Mentor. With the support of BDA, Deb had Sammy tested through Mary Cariola Children’s Center. Sammy was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disability (PDD), an autism related diagnosis. He was immediately enrolled in a preschool program where he learned to talk. Today Deb, now a breast cancer survivor, is still involved with BDA, attending support groups and events, supporting other parents and letting other parents support her. She recently stated that BDA offers knowledge, power and friendship that last a lifetime for children and adults alike.
You can help us to help clients like Deb and Sammy. Together we can make a real difference for those who cannot afford much needed services—services that can really make a difference in a person’s daily life---socially, at work, at school, and at home.
Won’t you consider a gift of $100, or $50
or what best fits your individual budget at this time?
Thank you so very much for your consideration of a gift to the Mental Health Association this year! Together we can make a difference and help people like Deb and Sammy become all that they might want to be! Your contributions really do make a difference and allow us to meet the mental health needs of our entire community.
P.S. All funds raised in the Greater Rochester Area STAY in the Greater Rochester Area! Almost 85% of funds go to direct support of programs and projects supporting individuals and families with mental wellness!