June 2, 2017 - In This Issue:
Season of Success
By Trish Larsen, Executive Director

It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of another school year. So much has taken place throughout the year, it's not easy to choose just a few highlights. Minding Your Mind's program accomplishments are significant and our events have attracted countless new supporters - I hope you have been watching! In this last newsletter of the 2017-2018 school year, I would like to thank our Board of Directors, our amazing staff, invaluable organization partners, every school official, community member, and donor for their efforts and contributions. We have experienced overwhelming success and it's all thanks to many hands working together. I hope you all enjoy a healthy and relaxing summer. Look for us in your inbox in September!
 
Happy summer,
Grace & Gratitude
Grants Received since 
March 2017
Anonymous
Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Memorial Fund
IAMStrong Foundation
Janssen Foundation
Kyle Ambrogi Foundation
Michael's Giving Hand
St. Mary Medical Community Health Fund
Trent Stetler Play Day
WaWa Foundation
Regional Updates
MASSACHUSETTS
Minding Your Mind has continued to grow in Massachusetts and will have completed over 70 presentations by the end of the 2016-2017 academic year.

In addition to school programs, MYM has cultivated partnerships with local organizations. The Community Health Network Area (CHNA17) invited MYM to headline a presentation at McLean Hospital on May 23. MYM's Sheila Gillin and Jordan Burnham spoke to professionals and community members  on the topics of racial trauma as it relates to mental health and how people of color have a more difficult time accessing help when they are in crisis.  

Sheila Gillin, Clinical Director for MYM, presents to a packed house at McLean Hospital.


"We were incredibly impressed with the MYM Young Adult speakers who presented at our school. Both shared their stories with power, authenticity, and a touch of humor. Their stories resonated across the breadth of our student body, and the audience was captivated. We ran a concurrent evening program for parents, and they too hung on every word. We bring in many enrichment programs and social emotional learning programs, and Minding Your Mind provided one of the best in recent memory."

Dan Rubin
Director of Guidance
Newton South High School   

Ali leading speaker training in Boston, MA.

COMING SOON! We are excited that shortly we will be able to introduce you to some of the impressive young people who are currently in speaker training for MYM Massachusetts. If you are or know of someone who may be qualified and interested in becoming a young adult speaker for this region, please contact Jan Latorre-Stiller, Regional Director.   
VIRGINIA

MYM speaker Melissa with an enthusiastic crowd in VA

The partnership between MYM and CKG Foundation is designed to equip teens with tangible coping skills to be able to better handle life's challenges. CKG works with local public and private high schools to implement MYM's Peer Support Curriculum, a prevention-based program to provide and initiate conversation regarding mental health. The program begins with a presentation by a MYM young adult speaker, followed by professional staff to facilitate the interactive Peer Support Curriculum. 

The response has been excellent. "The Minding your Mind course has impacted me in ways I couldn't have imagined," shares one student from Deep Run High School. "It taught me to be especially mindful of others and what they could be going through before judging. Often, people don't realize how quick they are to judge, but this course really opened my eyes and I looked forward to every Friday, it made my days so much better!!"
Events Upcoming  Events

June 10

September 24
Minding Your Mind's 10th Annual Blue Gene Gala
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MYM hosts an active and ever-growing community of individuals who are interested in making mental health education a priority in our society. We have over 4,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and there is always room for one more. On our networks we share information about events, partnerships, and timely news and articles relevant to the mental health community. Come see what everyone is talking about! 

   
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Philadelphia Area Parent Support Groups Up and Active

MYM is honored to partner with the Center for Families in Malvern, PA, to facilitate a support group for parents whose children are struggling with mental health issues. Led by MYM Clinical Director Sheila Gillin, the Serenity for Parents group meets on Wednesdays from 7PM - 8:30PM. Workshops are available on Monday evenings, and a group meets Thursdays for parents whose children are conflicted with substance use issues.
Sheila Gillin, LCSW
MYM Clinical Director
The Center for Families  was established by a group of clinicians and parents that have been working with teens and families collectively for over 100 years. All have been personally touched by mental health issues and are able to share experiences, strength, and hope. For more information, visit the website at  www.centerforfams.com
A Celebration of Life: Philadelphia raises $100,000


On May 19, nearly 400 Minding Your Mind supporters gathered at the Union Trust in Philadelphia to help support mental health and suicide awareness. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, attendees, raffle and auction sales, and donations, the event raised $100,000 for Minding Your Mind's mental health education programs. 

Honored during the event was Bill Savage, recipient of the 2017 Emerging Minds Award.  Inspired by his former lacrosse teammate and best friend at St. Joe's, Joe Walsh, Bill created the Come To Me Campaign  to illuminate the depth and breadth of the support network that college students have if they are anxious or depressed. In its first year,  Come To Me  distributed over 7,000 wristbands on the Vanderbilt campus, and inspired  Come To Me  programs at eight other universities, involving nearly 25,000 students, faculty, and visiting parents.

This was the second annual A Celebration of Life: Philadelphia, which nearly doubled the amount raised at the event last year.  A Celebration of Life began in 2011 to honor the memory of Kyle Craig, a 21-year-old student at Vanderbilt University who took his life in May of 2010. Beginning in Nashville, and expanding to New York City and Philadelphia, this annual event has reached thousands of individuals and raised over $350,000 for Minding Your Mind.

(L-R) Event co-chair Michael Garuccio, emcee Rick Williams of 6ABC News, event co-chair Drew Bergman, award recipient Bill Savage 

To view additional photos from the event, please click here and here
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Save the Date! 
10th Anniversary Gala
Mark your calendars now for September 24, 2017! You will want to be present at our 10th Anniversary Blue Gene Gala. There are big plans in the works that will take attendees on a journey of these amazing ten years. Stay tuned for updates in future newsletters and on our website and social media platforms!
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"The Speaker was wonderful! Exactly what we needed and what I was hoping for. Just the right mix of his story and education. He's stealth at sneaking that education piece in - perfect for my freshmen! The other health teachers thought the same and spoke about asking him to come back sometime to maybe do an assembly for seniors."
Andover High School (MA)

"I was told by faculty and students alike it was one of the best assemblies ever put on by the school and they would love to see more like this one. Speaker was excellent, kept the students engaged and knew how to "reel" them back in when they started to chatter." 
Easton Area Middle School (PA) 

"The MYM speaker did a wonderful job connecting with the students and relaying his story. Many students said how he made an impact on them. In fact, after he presented to the 7th and 8th graders, I saw three girls walking in the hallway; one said, "Did you hear nothing that he said today?" I knew the girls were students walking their friend to the counseling office. THAT is an impact! "
Lumberton Middle School (NJ)

"Minding Your Mind speakers provide compelling sharing of their life experiences. Teaching a class on the graduate level about psychological conditions, I count on Minding Your Mind speakers to share what it is like to live with the conditions we discuss, taking the symptoms beyond the page of the textbook and making it feel real, with empathy, understanding of impact on one's life, and the power of recovery. Thank you for this awesome experience!"
La Salle University (PA)

Read more testimonials about our programs and speakers... 
Featured Speaker
Keith knows the power of the person when it comes to recovery.
From a young age, Keith battled with anxiety and insecurity that made school and early social life very difficult. During his teenage years, his untreated anxiety turned into depression. When he arrived at college, his depression worsened and he was unable to find a sense of purpose or direction. It was here that Keith started using opiates in an attempt to self-medicate. What started as infrequent use eventually spiraled into a full blown addiction. This led to a struggle where he found himself on death's door, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

After countless attempts to overcome addiction on his own, Keith eventually opened up to getting help. In December 2010, he entered into a treatment center where he received professional help for both his drug addiction and underlying mental health issues.

Building on the foundation he was able to establish in treatment, Keith has learned to embrace life's challenges and cope in a healthy way. He is a certified health coach and believes in a holistic approach to physical and mental health, addiction, and life in general. His mission is to empower others to grow stronger through their adversities and connect with a meaningful, fulfilling life.

To schedule a Speaker Program or Mindfulness Session for your school or community, please click here.