Make an Inspiring Impact for Caregivers to Those With Mental Illness

November is National Family Caregivers Month and I find it the perfect time to reach out to you with an important ask.

It’s the end of our third year of reaching out to caregivers in need through Courage to Caregivers and I couldn’t be more delighted with the direction our organization has taken.
 
What has struck me is the impact our curriculum is having in such a short time. Our participants are our heroes. They’ve been vulnerable and have had the courage to show up week after week. They’re doing the hard work we’re asking of them – to make small changes, sometimes just in their thinking – each and every week. As they report back to us the following week their progress is remarkable. Not only are they changing themselves, but their relationships with their loved ones with a brain difference and the rest of the family are also changing.
 

"As a One-to-One Caregiver Support Volunteer, my own caregiving journey is being validated. I came into this volunteer program heart based and hoping to help other caregivers not feel so afraid and alone as I was when I was new to caregiving. This is a mutually beneficial relationship.” ~ Cindy H.

We’ve seen growth not just in our participants, but in our organization as well. All of our programs are facilitated by trained professionals. In addition, over the last year, we have launched three pilot programs including 47 participants, with more than 800 opportunities for participation during 2019. We have six staff members and seventeen volunteers all working together to forward the vision of Courage to Caregivers. Our Board includes six members with strong leadership competencies that includes a retired Wall Street investment banker as well as the CTO of Cleveland Institute of Music, a grant writer, Chief Nursing Officer of a startup, an attorney and a social worker.
 

“Courage to Caregivers Support Group is an outlet for me. It’s a place to hear from so many people who are in my situation and help me realize I need to take time for myself instead of always caring for someone else.” ~Tina D.

People like you are the ones who have made the biggest difference in what we have been able to achieve this year. We now have almost 100 donors in addition to four grants totaling $29,750. In addition, we have received $5,000 in corporate donations. The remainder of the support, which totaled nearly $90,000 dollars this year, was from people just like you.

“As a One-to-One Caregiver Support Volunteer, my goal was to let my participant know they aren’t alone and to help them not rewrite the caregiving book.” ~Debe K.

Our goal is to come alongside caregivers to those with mental illness to give them the tools they need to provide support. What we know is that when caregivers have the tools to take care of themselves, they are better prepared to offer support to their loved one. Our solutions include One-to-One Caregiver (Peer) Support, Breathing Meditation classes and Support Groups. 
 
But, we can’t continue to do this critical work without you…
 
Supporting our programs is easy. All you need to do is to visit our website to donate!
 
We are attaching our infographic here. We’d love it if you’d share one with a neighbor, family member, colleague or friend that might need it.
 
And, if you have more questions about Courage to Caregivers, all you need to do is reach out. I’d be more than happy to discuss our programs, program sponsorships or the services that we offer at your convenience. You can email me - I will respond to you personally.
 
Thanks again for your consideration!
 
Caring together,