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Chris Hendrix I Am Hope

"Because family members and loved ones are learning through our education, advocacy, support, and resources that they are not alone."
Chris Hendrix

Accomplishments

2011

  • Redesign of logo and identity materials
  • Redesign and launch of www.KarlaSmithFoundation.org in Auctori content management system
  • Established quarterly newsletter, The Hope Connection
  • Hired 1st full-time employee Chris Hendrix, Director of Programs and Events
  • Feature article in St. Louis Review about our growing St. Louis support group meeting
  • Launched 'One in a Million' marketing campaign for private and corporate sponsorships
  • Hosted St. Louis Cardinals day in the ballpark in June to raise awareness for mental illness
  • 14 KSF volunteers participated in building a home for the Hill Family, as part of Extreme Makeover Home Edition
  • Co-Sponsored Erase the Stigma conference in Belleville, IL
  • 600 people attended a KSF support group
  • Over 1,000 website hits monthly from every state in the U.S.
  • Wrote article, "The Fine Line - Between Supporting and Enabling A Loved One with a Mental Illness
  • Several presentations to local organizations, rotary clubs, church groups, schools, health fairs
  • Established partnership with Silent Siren, a program founded by Gina Hill to alert emergency responders of a home with PTSD and mental illness

2010

  • Continued growth of mental health and suicide survivor support groups in Belleville, IL, which have now been attended by nearly 400 people since 2005
  • Partnered with BringChange2Mind for an anti-stigma and awareness event in St. Louis attended by Ms. Glenn Close for a gala dinner at the Four Seasons and a Cardinals baseball game in April
  • In affiliation with BringChange2Mind, KSF maintains a leadership role as their National Coordinator of Volunteers as well as an active participant on the Response Team to hundreds seeking advice with mental health problems
  • Launched bi-monthly support group meetings in St. Louis for family and friends of those with mental health problems
  • 4th annual Dinner Auction attended by 375 people (150 attending for the first time)
  • Co-Sponsored and led the annual 'Erase the Stigma conference' attended by 161 people in Belleville, IL. 
  • Website hits averaging 1,000 per month across all 50 states and 90 countries
  • Local media promotion of KSF included television spots on Fox 2, KSDK, KPLR, STLTV and radio spots on KMOX, KFNS, 93.7 the BULL, as well as billboards on Highways 64 and 70
  • Multiple speaking engagements spreading the anti-stigma message and KSF mission to hospitals, churches, schools, and organizations
  • Completed first independent financial audit

2009

  • Established partnership with Glenn Close and the Bring Change 2 Mind.org national campaign. Met Glenn and the BC2M leadership team during a day in New York City.
  • Dinner Auction in November raised more than $50,000 and was attended by 270
  • TV interviews with Fox 2 News, KPLR Channel 11 News, Best of St. Louis weekly TV show, the Norm Greenberg Show, and a radio interview with Jill Devine's Community Corner on 93.7 FM promoting the dinner auction and mission of KSF
  • Billboard promoting KSF and the dinner auction on 64E during October/November
  • Continued growth in our weekly support groups, which have now been attended by almost 300 individuals since November 2005
  • Provided financial aid for 122 individual counseling sessions for our support group members
  • Co-sponsored the 3rd annual two-day Erase the Stigma conference in Belleville, IL in October 2009
  • Launched a new more user-friendly website, which has had more than 2,000 visits across 41 states and 19 countries since March 2009
  • Launched a new chapter for Suicide Survivor support group meetings the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month in Maryville, IL.
  • Participated in the “Say It Out Loud” Campaign at 3 different locations which sponsored the viewing of the film “Jumping Off Bridges”, followed by a panel discussion
  • Continued speaking engagements about the mission of KSF: Indianapolis Regional Office of Education, Teacher’s Institute, ST. Elizabeth’s Hospital Behavioral Health Care Staff, Althoff High School Faculty, and O’Fallon Middle School Social Workers
  • Continued partnership on a research study with the University of Illinois on the effectiveness of our KSF support groups
  • Due to high demand, provided additional printing of the KSF Resource Directory which includes all local mental health-related organizations, support groups, and resources
  • Distributed the KSF informational DVD, viewed at the 2008 Dinner Auction, to local media and organizations
  • Moved all KSF financial data into Quickbooks online and purchased an online software for management of our growing dinner auction

2008

  • Published the book: A Balanced Life:  Nine Strategies for Coping with the Mental Health Problems of a Loved One
  • Recipient of the annual Charles E. Rubey Award for suicide prevention and survivor support at the LOSS (Loving Outreach Suicide Survivors) banquet attended by 750 people in Chicago, IL
  • Designed and printed a Resource Directory of agencies and services in the region to provide assistance to families needing support
  • Produced a KSF DVD incorporating testimonials from KSF members to be distributed to local schools, charities, hospitals, agencies, and psychiatrists to explain the mission and purpose of KSF and raise awareness against the stigma of mental illness
  • Partnered with the University of Illinois to conduct a research project on the effectiveness of KSF support groups for family and friends
  • Co-sponsored the second “Erase the Stigma” conference attended by 180 people in Belleville, IL to educate and raise awareness about mental illness
  • Second Annual Dinner Auction attended by 200 raised $30,000
  • Featured article on KSF in the Belleville Messenger, Families Learn to Cope When Loved Ones Die By Suicide
  • Continued growth in weekly support group meeting attendees.  More than 200 people have attended a meeting since KSF began.
  • Funded individual counseling services for support group members who did not have insurance to cover counseling 

2007

  • Continued growth in weekly support group meeting attendees
  • Funded individual counseling services for support group members who’s insurance did not cover counseling 
  • Conducted several mental health workshops and gave presentations about KSF services at St. Elizabeth Hospital, The Catholic Office of Disability Ministry, PSOP, Quincy Diocese, Family Life Ministers, LINC, Piecing It All Together, The Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
  • Established “Visits with Families” program designed to offer in-home support to families unable to attend support group meetings
  • Received the annual Ministry ICTHUS Award from the Southern Illinois Association of Priests of the Diocese of Belleville, IL and received a $500 grant
  • Received the Ministers of the Year Award from the National Association of Family Life Ministers in Rockford, IL
  • Received the annual St. Louis Accenture Volunteer Service Award and a $1000 grant
  • Co-sponsored the first “Erase the Stigma” conference attended by 150 people in Belleville, IL to educate and raise awareness about mental illness
  • Earned the 2nd most votes out of 35 organizations during the annual St. Nicholas “To Be Given Away” program and received a $3,500 donation
  • First annual Dinner Auction fundraiser attended by 250 raised $35,000

2006

  • Continued growth in weekly support group meeting attendees
  • Hosted second Ecumenical Prayer Service attended by 75 at St. Nicholas Church to raise awareness on mental illness and suicide
  • Second KSF fundraiser held at the Pastoral Center in Belleville, IL attended by 200 raises $8,500
  • Established nine strategies for coping with mental health problems of a family or friend
  • Partnered with local mental health agencies and programs (St. Clair County Mental Health Board, the Youth Coalition, Family Voices, LINC, Shrine of our Lady of the Snows) to educate and raise awareness of mental illness
  • Feature article in the Quincy Herald Whig newspaper promoting KSF and a presentation at St. Peter Church in Quincy

2005

  • Established KSF as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
  • Began weekly support group meetings
  • First KSF fundraiser, a Bowl-A-Thon, raises $3,800
  • Hosted Ecumenical Prayer Service attended by 100 at Blessed Sacrament to raise awareness on Mental Illness and suicide.
  • Front page article Family Uses Grief To Help Others in Belleville News-Democrat to raise awareness about KSF and mental illness
  • Completed publication of book:The Tattered Tapestry, A Family’s Search for Peace with Bipolar Disorder

We admire you all so much for the way you have turned your own grief into hope for an ever growing number of families. It's testimony to the enormous good that can be accomplished by just a few.”
Ginny Lucido, O'Fallon, IL.

The Tattered Tapestry: The Tattered Tapestry Book Buy the Book >
A Balanced Life: A Balanced Life Book Buy the Book >