Fundraising breakfast benefits "Beautiful Minds"

Center for Mental Health Foundation is pleased to announce that Cambridge Place selected "Beautiful Minds" to be the recipient this year's first monthly fundraising breakfast proceeds. 

Three C4MH peers stepped forward to tell their recovery stories at the breakfast.  USAF Veteran James Hollimon spoke about his new career of becoming a peer specialist and WRAP facilitator.  Vernon Bishop, the newest CMH Foundation Board member, spoke about being a survivor of child sexual trauma who has become a champion for recovery and statewide leader.  Beautiful Minds Ambassador Betty Leavitt spoke about how she focuses on her abilities, not disabilities.  "I really care about people, and I would do anything to help someone else.  I don't feel sorry for myself."

Bishop encouraged people to "pay it forward" whenever they can.  Now that he is living in recovery, he said he is able to help so the Center can help other young, scared people who have been newly diagnosed with a mental illness.  As Hollimon said, "Recovery is possible, I am the proof." 

Emeritus Marketing Director Eric Spragg said, "When I heard about the Center's funding being cut so badly, I wanted to feature vital mental health services that need critical funding." 

CMH Foundation Executive Director Heidi Gibson introduced CEO Sydney Blair and left the crowd of 75 people with a final thought ... "Never quit before the miracle."