Fundraising for Maine Behavioral Health Care has opened wallets and conversations that can change lives.
Mainers who feel strongly about the work of Maine Behavioral Healthcare showed their support in a big way at the Signs of Hope fundraiser on July 13 at Portland Country Club, which raised more than $138,000 .
Corporate sponsors – The Boulos Company, Genoa Healthcare, Saco & Biddeford Savings, the University of New England and Wex – contributed $2,500 each, skewing the numbers to the average donation size, which came down to $770 per person at the event.
“We owe it to the host committee, which has given a huge base of support,” said co-host Sheri Boulos, a longtime member of the development committee. “I will never take it lightly that so many of you come year after year to help friends and family in our community find the hope they are looking for in the world of the disordered mind.”
Jessica Gil, who has a 19-year-old son with paranoid schizophrenia, talked about how Maine Behavioral Healthcare’s team-based approach has been life-changing — for the whole family.
“For seven years, my son struggled day and night in torment with this mental illness,” said Gil. “I thank you because you gave hope to a family that was grieving the loss of a loved one who was still alive. … Now my child has a renewed mind. He’s taking his medications, he’s attending his appointments, he’s exercising, he’s reading and he can have conversations without his mind wandering to a scary place.”
Lucy Tucker, who chairs the development committee, said, “A great thing about this event is that it’s an opportunity to talk freely about mental health.” With a gesture to the Gil family, she added, “Thank you for sharing your story, because you are changing lives just by doing so.”
“Mental health hasn’t always gotten the attention it needs or deserves,” said Maine Behavioral Health Care President Kelly Barton. “It’s events like these that help us bring behavioral health care to the forefront and will allow us to expand our team-based model across our programs and services.”
Proceeds will go to the Maine Behavioral Healthcare Fund, which supports the organization’s areas of greatest need, including the team-based patient services that have been so helpful for the Gil family. Last year, Maine Behavioral Healthcare’s Community Assertive Treatment team of social workers, psychiatric staff, case managers, nurses and vocational specialists supported 279 patients with schizophrenia or other serious and persistent issues of mental health.
Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and photographer from Scarborough. You can be reached at [email protected]
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