Thank You!

It’s hard to believe the 2013 NAMIWalk Season is over! Because of you, the Spring and Fall NAMIWalks were very successful! Thank you to all of our Team Captains, walkers, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who supported the program – YOU! 

 

The money raised through each NAMIWalk location was channeled into the local education programs and support services that NAMI provides to individuals living with mental illness and their loved ones. Your dedication to NAMIWalks helped many people receive the support they needed. 

Remember, many of the Fall Walk websites are still opened, so there's still time to make a donation! We hope you enjoyed participating in the NAMIWalks program and we also hope you will join us again next year for the 2014 NAMIWalks!

 

Lead by Example - Build Your Walk Team by Starting with Your Own Donation!

It may seem daunting to build a fundraising Team, but it’s actually a process that can be broken down to leading by example. Even simpler than that, the most successful Team Captains start with a basic step – starting their fundraising by making a personal donation. This shows that you have “skin in the game.” Putting your money where your mouth is, so to speak, shows other people that you are committed to supporting NAMI’s mission, and gives them a reason to do so, too.

Does this mean you have to go broke? No. Making a contribution that is significant for you is what matters. That may be $25, or $250.

In successful nonprofit organizations, effective Board Members and other leaders know that all eyes are on them. They know that they can’t expect individuals to donate their funds and their time if they don’t see the people at the top doing so. Fundraising and team-building is the same; think of your role as a Team Captain as that of an ambassador for NAMI. Once you start with your own donation, and sharing why NAMI is important to you, invite others to follow suit. Ask your Team Members to do the same and you’ll be off to a great start!

Michelle Madison

Events and Outreach Manager

NAMI Oregon

"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"

The old adage - "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" - couldn't be more true when you look at pictures from NAMIWalks across the country. We hope you enjoy these pictures that were taken at NAMIWalk Los Angeles County, NAMIWalk Maine, NAMIWalk New Hampshire, NAMIWalk Northern Virginia, and NAMIWalk Summit County.

 

NAMI's Executive Director, Michael J. Fitzpatrick's CNN Opinion Piece - How Shootings Stigmatize People Living With Mental Illness

NAMI’s Executive Director, Michael J. Fitzpatrick recently wrote a CNN Opinion piece regarding the tragic shooting at the Washington DC Navy Yard. Please follow the link - http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/20/opinion/mental-health-stigma-shootings/index.html - to read Mr. Fitzpatrick’s important article, How shootings stigmatize people living with mental illness.

NAMIWalks' Coaching Video Series

Many of our Team Captains and Walkers have attended a Walk Information Meeting and/or a Team Captain Kick-Off Luncheon this Fall Walk season. At those meetings Walk Managers provided event information, as well as team building and fundraising tips. 

To enhance the information that was presented at these events, as well as the coaching emails that Walk Managers have been sending to event participants, the National Walk Team created a series of coaching videos. We hope these videos will compliment the information you have received and continue to receive. We want our Team Captains and Walkers to be successful, so we try to provide all the tools possible to help you along your NAMIWalk journey. Please take a few minutes to watch our videos and let us know what you think! Click here to view the videos.