Invitation for Sponsorship
Ninth Annual
Celebration of Courage
April 2015
Presented by
NAMI Wake County
919 848 4490
www.nami-wake.org
Celebration of Courage
Van Gogh painted his famous Irises when he was
institutionalized as a result of mental illness. The iris has
become a symbol of hope and courage.
“What consoles me is that I am beginning to consider madness as an
illness like any other, and that I accept it as such.”
Vincent Van Gogh 1889
Landscape Art Installation
Large Artificial Irises - April 12- 19, 2015, Rex Hospital Main Campus
These large irises represent Van Gogh’s painting. They will be set up by volunteers on the Rex Main Hospital Campus,
a highly visible location, for one week where thousands of passersby will take a moment to reflect on the message,
“mental illnesses are no-fault brain diseases, with no need for shame or blame.”
Celebration of Courage Luncheon
Luncheon, April 16, 2015, 12:15 - 1:45 pm, Highland United Methodist Church, Bradley
Hall, 1901 Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC, Anticipated attendance is 250 people.
Keynote Speakers: General William F. Kernan, US Army Retired, and wife, Marianne, will
share their family’s compelling story of courage and accomplishment.
People living with mental illness, family members, and community supporters are invited to a luncheon focusing on
stories of courage, hope, recovery, and advocacy. The NAMI Wake “Robert Bullock Person of Courage” award will
be presented at this luncheon. Robert Bullock, an individual living with severe mental illness, overcame numerous
obstacles to serve others as a leader in legislative advocacy and community outreach.
Your sponsorships help families &
people living with serious mental illness.
Mental illnesses are brain diseases, no need for blame or shame.
One in four individuals in the US lives with a mental illness. Of these illnesses, one in seventeen is serious
such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or borderline personality
disorder. In Wake County alone, 67,000 people live with a serious mental illness. According to the Association of State
Mental Health Directors, people living with mental illness live 25 years less than other Americans.
NAMI Wake’s Celebration of Courage event raises community awareness about mental illness and raises funds
to provide essential and free education and support group programs for people living with mental illness and their
loved ones. Funds also support NAMI Wake’s efforts to effect change through tireless advocacy for a health care system
that ensures access to treatment for those in need. These programs and advocacy efforts help both families and people
living with mental illness as they work on their security, recovery and support to live quality lives in the community.
Imagine your own family member being diagnosed
for the first time with a serious mental illness. Would you
know what to do or where to turn for services and support?
Would you know how to relate to your family member
and keep your family together? Would you understand
the illness, the medications and how to advocate for the
care your loved one needs? If you are like most people,
you would have no idea what to do and would feel terribly
isolated and alone. If your family member is older than 17,
you would not have the right to have his psychiatrists and
therapists share what they know with you. And very few
mental health professionals provide family education.
NAMI Wake County fills this big need for
thousands of moms, dads, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters,
grandparents, and other caregivers every year. We offer
three in-depth classes that provide the latest research and
information for families who have children or adult family
members suffering from mental illness.
This is what one mother had to say. “The course was my first exposure to caregivers
who struggled like I did. The emotions shown during the first meeting ranged from
embarrassment to despair. Many of the caregivers were also hurt and abandoned by wellmeaning family and friends. I learned to understand how and why people with thought
disorders have difficulty comprehending instructions, staying focused and on topic. I learned
new communication techniques. These exercises were so important because I was able to test
these theories in real life. I now have the communication skills to reach my daughter. She
now feels less isolated and so do I.”
Celebration of Courage
The Celebration of Courage
is the primary
fundraiser for NAMI Wake County.
NAMI Wake offers
• Support groups in three Raleigh locations, and one in Garner, Fuquay Varina, and
Wake Forest.
• Evidence-based classes to help family members of children and adults living with all
types of mental illness to increase coping skills, hope, and self-confidence.
• Classes to help people living with mental illness learn to live better quality lives and
cope with their illness.
• Monthly speakers and a comprehensive newsletter with distribution to approximately
3,500 individuals as well as a website, www.nami-wake.org.
• Program support and development with Wake County law enforcement departments in
the Crisis Intervention Team Program which provides training to help officers recognize
mental illness and to safely de-escalate situations.
• Advocacy and community awareness about the need for essential services for people
with mental illness. NAMI Wake County volunteers help families and individuals with
serious mental illnesses connect with families and people living with mental illness to
help link them to appropriate services in the area.
Research has shown that individuals living with mental illness do better when they participate in support
groups and when they have an involved and supportive family. The services that NAMI Wake provides
help to reduce costs to taxpayers and the community by supporting people through periods of stress and
heightened anxiety which reduces the need for more frequent visits to service providers and to hospital
emergency rooms. Our services are very cost effective since most of our workforce consists of trained
volunteers (people living with a mental illness and family members). Your financial support helps these
volunteers find meaning through their very important contributions in helping others who are working on
their recovery.
Celebration of Courage
Sponsorship Opportunities
GOLD - $5,000
CHAMPION - $500
SILVER - $2,000
ADVOCATE - $250
BRONZE - $1,000
SUPPORTER - $100
Your Sponsorship will provide funds to organize, advertise, and
staff classes and support groups for people living with mental
illness and their families.
Your Sponsorship will provide training materials for 1 class to
train 15 family members
Your Sponsorship will provide materials for 25 support group
sessions serving 375 people per week
Your Sponsorship will provide training materials for 4 classes to
train 60 family members.
Your Sponsorship will provide materials for 10 support group
sessions serving 150 people per week
Your Sponsorship will provide training materials for 2 classes to
train 30 family members
Sponsor
Benefit
Logo Site Banner
Logo on Training
Manuals
Logo Website
Luncheon Seats
Logo Table Signs
Lunch Remarks
Logo /Name on
Programs
Newsletter Ad
Presenting
Gold
Silver Bronze Champion
X
All classes
X (cover)
12 mos
16
2
X
X
X
10
classes
12 mos
16
2
X
X
X
4
classes
12 mos
8
2
X
2
classes
2 mos
4
1
1
class
12 mo
2
1
X
X
X
1/2 Page
12 mos 1/4
1/8
Page
Page
1/8 Page Logo/Name
Advocate
Supporter
1 mo
2
1
1 mo.
2
Logo/Name
Logo/Name
Advertising/Media X
Special sponsorship recognition is also available for major donors of goods and services,
depending on the cash value of the donation, including sponsorship of the food and beverage.
Celebration of Courage
Sponsorship Confirmation
Yes! We are proud to support NAMI Wake County. We authorize NAMI Wake County to
include our name or logo on all the materials printed for the event consistent with our
sponsorship selection below:
$ 5,000
1 Champion $
500
1 Silver
$ 2,000
1 Advocate $
250
1 Bronze $ 1,000
1 Supporter $
100
1 Gold
NAMI Wake County is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax exempt to
the full extent of the law.
Company Name:______________________________________________________________________
Contact Name:________________________________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________________________________
City:___________________________________________State:___________Zip:___________________
Phone:______________________FAX:___________________Email:_____________________________
Payment: _______________Check enclosed (please make payable to NAMI Wake County)
_______________Credit cards accepted: ( ) Visa ( ) Mastercard ( ) Discover
_______________Invoice required
Please Print
Name: (as it appears on credit card):___________________________________________________
Billing Address (If different from above):________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Card Number:_________________________________________________________________________
Card Verification Code:____________________(Three digit code on back, near the signature)
Signature:_____________________________________________________________________________
The benefit of confirming your sponsorship and providing electronic copies of your logo is
inclusion in all printed materials as specified by level. Regardless of confirmation date, all
sponsors will receive recognition at luncheon, on website, and in newsletter in accordance with
their level of sponsorship.
Contact: Ann Akland, Volunteer Development Director, 919 266 0766, [email protected]
Mail Checks to NAMI Wake COC, PO Box 12562, Raleigh, NC 27605-2562