July 2023

Slowing Down in Summer Is Essential!

From the Desk of Annmarie...

Traditionally a sign of positivity, good health and hope, the sunflower has always been one of my favorite flowers; they make me smile.

These sun-worshipping beauties remind me that simple things can make us happy and that small doses of joy are important. The summer season invites us to experience joy with all our senses. Taste the sweetness of summer fruit; feel sunshine on your face; hear the birds calling; smell the blooming jasmine and spot the sunflowers towering in nature… consider how these simple sensory experiences can have real impact in grounding our thoughts and uplifting our mood all summer long!

Mental Wellness Center CEO,

Annmarie Cameron.

As the season changes to summer, Mental Wellness Center held a celebratory retirement luncheon to offer our well wishes to three people who’ve made deeply felt, permanent imprints on our organization. Our long-time chief operating officer, Patricia Collins, who started her career at Mental Wellness Center over 30 years ago, and worked to ensure that Fellowship Club would remain at the heart of what we do; our beloved family advocate, Ramona Winner, who helped thousands of families in need of mental health support and guidance with compassion and peer relatability, and our 25-year grant writer, Mike Klein, who helped us raise valuable funds that helped so many clients and families over his 25 year career at MWC. To each of you, we say thank you and share our gratitude for your incredible achievements and combined legacies.

Wishing you all a summer of lightness and light, and one final reminder to join me in looking for the simple pleasures of the season!

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Last year's participants on the

Peace of Mind Walk

Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction

A Walk to Benefit Mental Wellness Center

and One Mind

For the fourth year in a row, Alma Rosa Winery will host Peace of Mind-10,000 Steps in the Right Direction, a fundraising walk benefitting Mental Wellness Center.

From 9am to 12 noon on July 22nd, Alma Rosa Winery opens up its gorgeous Santa Rite Hills estate property to walkers invited to meander its verdant trails along a 4.3 mile walking loop -- approximately 10,000 steps.

Winery owners, Barb and Bob Zorich will match up to $35,000 that Mental Wellness Center collects through registration fees and other donations for the Walk.

Very Best Wishes and Much Good Luck to

Our Beloved MWC Legends...

Patricia Collins

Chief Operating Officer, 31 years

Ramona Winner

Family Advocate, 12+ years

...And Welcome New Team Members

Julieta Silva

Family Advocate

Margot Solvay De La Hulpe

Lead Peer Support Specialist

Our Bus Campaign Continues to Roll Through Santa Barbara and Spread Our Message!

Project Reboot Founder, Dino Ambrosi

Dino Ambrosi & Project Reboot –

Where Are They Now?

It’s been many months since we invited Dino to be our guest and speak about the digital detox program he created – Project Reboot – so we’re delighted to share a quick update from Dino in his own words:

I’ve been focused on bringing Project Reboot into schools, and so far a variation of the program has been at 8 schools around the U.S. as well as to a few schools in Kathmandu, Nepal.

I’ve added a workshop to help parents encourage healthy tech use at home, as well as a series of follow-up activities that can be facilitated by teachers in the classroom.

Most teens are eager to have conversations around tech use as long as they don’t incite shame or ignore its beneficial aspects. In fact, a number of students who've participated in the program share that their screen time is still down over 50% -- months after they've finished the program. That's something I'm super proud of!

Next, I’m working on an app that enables people to enforce the intentions they initially set during the program and even allows friends to hold each other accountable.

The Easiest Ways to Leave a Legacy of Mental Wellness

Summer is a busy time for many of us, but there are still some do-it-yourself, quick and easy ways to provide a legacy gift to support Mental Wellness Center and NAMI without visiting an attorney!

IRA Designation: If you leave your IRA assets to your heirs, a large percentage of their value will be lost to estate and income taxes. Instead, you can designate 100% of their value to pass to your favorite charity. You’ll need a new beneficiary form, provided to you by your IRA custodian, and then write in exactly how much or what percentage you want to give.

MWC's Planned Giving Consultant, Pat Snyder

Learn More About Planned Giving

POD/TOD: Name your favorite charity as the beneficiary that your checking, savings or stock account is to be paid to (POD) or transferred to (TOD) after your death. Complete the beneficiary form at your bank or with your investment advisor.

Insurance Beneficiary: When you no longer need a paid up insurance policy, you can donate its cash value to charity or name the charity as an ultimate beneficiary.

For more information on other ways to give, and become a member of our honorary Circle of Hope, go to MWC’s updated website: mwclegacy.org or email planned giving consultant, Pat Snyder: [email protected].

What's New & Next?

From Our Director of Wellness & Recovery Programs

Gabriela Dodson, LCSW/MSW

Mental Health Matters welcomes a new Program Coordinator, MK Littman!
Socialization through the arts begins in the mental health wing of SB County Jail
Students Supporting Mental Wellness (formerly Wellness Connection Council) kicks off at each of the three public high schools
MWC's Mental Health 101 supports employees of Acme Hospitality
MWC facilitates a new home based, peer-to-parent support group for parents contending with mentally ill adult children