SECOND ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

Actions from June 1, 2020 – May 31, 2021

• Created an initiative with the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Humana Healthcare to provide Mental Health First Aid training to 3,000 persons in the greater Tampa Bay area over 3 years. Subsequently increased the goal to 5,000 new First Aiders over the same time period.

• Recruited candidates and facilitated Mental Health First Aid Instructor training for 20 persons who would facilitate classes within the initiative described above. The new Instructors are certified to teach different offerings of the class: Adult, Youth, and Spanish versions of the Mental Health First Aid curriculum.

• Sponsored and named a Love IV Lawrence/ Southeastern Guide Dogs puppy,” Lars.”

• Hosted the Second Annual Reeling in Stigma event: “The Art of Healing” which highlighted the work of five organizations that use art therapy to support adults, students, and children with mental health challenges. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the event was presented through Facebook and YouTube Live to an estimated audience of over 600 viewers. The audience choice for the $10,000 grand prize was the University of South Florida’s Breaking Barriers Program; $5,000 awards were given to Directions for Living, Inc., the University of Florida’s Wilmot Gardens/College of Medicine Horticultural Therapy Program, The Red Tent Women’s Initiative, and Metropolitan Ministries.

• The Art of Healing event featured internationally known National Geographic photographer and mountain climber Corey Richards as keynote speaker. Mr. Richards inspired hope for healing and recovery from mental illness as he shared his personal experiences.

• Conducted 54 Mental Health First Aid classes resulting in 747 persons becoming certified as First Aiders.

• Completed the second annual competitive grants program and awarded a total of $83,420 to 9 Tampa Bay area nonprofit organizations. 

• Provided a student scholarship through Southeastern Guide Dogs to U.S. Army veteran Reynaldo Crespo. “Rey” is from El Paso Texas, served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and graduated from the Southeastern Guide Dogs School with his black Labrador C.W. on February 5, 2021.

• Along with the Brain and Behavioral Research Foundation, hosted the first LIVL Salon Symposium featuring Dr. Lynnette Averill of Yale University School of Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Averill provided a thoughtful discussion regarding the neural fingerprint of suicidal ideation, rapid-acting interventions to treat suicidality, and recent findings regarding response and recovery for suicidal ideation and depression.

• Granted a total of $114,420 in the second year of grantmaking.

First Annual Impact Report

Actions from May 2019 - May 2020

• Activated and empowered our 15-member Board of Directors to guide the foundation

• Sponsored Gracepoint Foundation’s annual Stronger Than Stigma event

• Sponsored Directions for Living’s Directions University training and provided two speakers for a workshop to help inspire 600 mental health professionals

• Established an endowment at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

• Initiated social media outreach via Facebook and Instagram 

• Hosted first public event called Reeling in Stigma at USF St. Petersburg, connecting nearly 400 guests with speakers from five organizations working to reduce the stigma of mental health in greater Tampa Bay. The audience choice for the $10,000 Grand Prize was To Write Love On Her Arms; $5,000 awards were given to The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Warrior2Warrior, SpeakUp 5K, and Rogers Behavioral Health.

• Hosted Mountainfilm On Tour documentary film program with special guest Will “Akuna” Robinson, an Iraq war veteran who found relief from PTSD through long distance hiking

• Sponsored training for 35 individuals to become certified in Mental Health First Aid

• Certified our Director, Stoney Dvornik, as a Mental Health First Aid instructor

• Initiated an annual grants program through the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and granted a total of $44,305 to six organizations

• Awarded grants totaling $8,000 for mental health emergency assistance to four local organizations during the Coronavirus pandemic

• Granted a grand total of $94,055 in first year of grantmaking (June 2019 – May 2020)

Partner Support

2020-2021

2019-2020