Summer Newsletter

Wellspring Administrative Center 225 W. Breckinridge Street (502) 637-4361

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Louisville, KY Permit No. 1105

Officers and Directors

Dawn Croft, Chair Alan MacDonald, Vice Chair Steve Kerrick, Treasurer Meredith Brown, Secretary Rolandas “Ro” Byrd Paul Coomes Rif El-Mallakh, M.D. Rich Freeman Gregory E. Mayes, Jr. Cissy Mills Margaret Pennington George W. Rapp, Jr. Carrie Schanie Curtiss Scott John “Jack” Trawick Elmore A. “Ack” Willets, III Jefferey M. Yussman

P.O. Box 1927 Louisville, KY 40201-1927

www.wellspringky.org

Read & Share - Go to: www.wellspringky.org

June 2018

Announcing the Wellspring Bernie Block Wellness Center

Honorary Lifetime Members

Nancy B. Bell (1923 - 2016) Bernard F. Block Barry Bingham, Sr. (1906 - 1988) Roberta Fischer Rev. Richard H. Humke Clifford C. Kuhn, M.D. Malcolm R. Mathews, Jr. (1922 - 2013) Cornelia A. Serpell (1917 - 2011) Jackie Swigart, Ph.D. Bosworth M. Todd, Jr.

Founding Board Chair

Philip P. Ardery (1914 - 2012)

Management Team

Katharine R. Dobbins, LCSW Chief Executive Officer kathy.dobbins@wellspringky.org Rick Alexander Chief Financial Officer rick.alexander@wellspringky.org T. Patrick Rhodes, LCSW Director of Programs patrick.rhodes@wellspringky.org Kimberly Spaw Johnson Development Director kim.johnson@wellspringky.org Marsha Wilson Quality Improvement Director marsha.wilson@wellspringky.org Priscilla Hancock Chief of Compliance & Technology priscilla.hancock@wellspringky.org

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Our Mission: Wellspring promotes mental health recovery and supports individuals

in building healthy and hopeful lives through behavioral health, housing and employment services.

“I’m a Survivor”

“I always thought I was too good for mental (health) problems, but I finally swallowed my pride and got help.”

Melissa is a Wellspring Works client. Wellspring Works is program that offers a full service approach to helping people with mental illness find and maintain employment. She works for Jones Plastic & Engineering (Rev-a-Shelf). “I have the keys to my own house. I love working all day and coming home and putting that key in the door and knowing that nobody can kick me out.”

Melissa had a long road to get to her new stability. She has had a life-long history of substance abuse. She has also been homeless and attempted suicide several times.

After being kicked out of one homeless shelter, a stranger discovered her under a bridge and walked with her to U of L. That walk started her on the road to recovery. U of L connected Melissa to Wellspring’s crisis units and that was the beginning of her new life. Melissa lived at Ardery House where she learned that there are others “just like me” and started to feel better about herself. She relapsed once but did not give up.

“I’m more confident in myself now. I don’t have that severe paranoia of being judged in my life anymore. I know who I am today. I finally know who I am”.

Melissa asked that her gratitude to Wellspring be expressed. “I’m a survivor”, she stated proudly. www.wellspringky.org

Heartfelt thanks to the David J. Block Foundation!

Wellspring Board of Directors & Executive Staff proudly pose with a generous check from the David J. Block Foundation.

The funds have helped furnish Wellspring’s new outpatient services building.

20th Annual Derby Preview Party

Ack Willets, Derby Pre

e Chair view Party Committe

Story on Page 2 crisis stabilization services | supportive housing | case management services | outpatient services | supported employment

Meet Wellspring’s New Development Director: Kimberly Spaw Johnson

If you are ever going to jump into a new job, I recommend starting at an exciting time as I did with Wellspring – just weeks before the beautiful Derby Preview Party! The event was amazing and raised approximately $160,000 for Wellspring’s programs.

High praise goes to Kristen Millwood, Wellspring’s Development & Communications Manager, who planned and implemented DPP beautifully and to Fundraising Committee Chair, Ack Willetts, who provided inspirational leadership!

It is a pleasure to have joined such a great team.

For those of you I didn’t get to speak with during the DPP, I hope to meet you very soon. In the meantime, please allow me to introduce myself.

Originally from Iowa, I married Kentuckian Randy Spaw while we both worked in North Carolina. Following my husband’s career we moved to Owensboro, KY in 2003 and then his job brought us to Louisville in 2014. We have a very active 7-year-old son and for the past four years I have stayed home to manage family activities. My previous employment includes serving as Development Director for Owensboro’s performing arts center and, prior to that, working in a variety of roles that range from hotel group sales to television news.

I have also served several non-profits through volunteer and Board service.

I have big shoes to fill from my predecessor, Nancy Doctor, who served as Wellspring’s Development Director for 11 years. She helped Wellspring accomplish great things and I am honored to now sit in the Development office and look toward Wellspring’s future.

With your help, wonderful things lie ahead for the services Wellspring provides, the lives we touch, and the betterment of Louisville through the continual supply of mental health recovery resources Wellspring offers. I look forward to working with you as we pursue our mission.

20th Annual Derby Preview Party

Thank You to Our Derby Preview Party Sponsors

Wellspring’s 20th Annual Derby Preview Party once again had a capacity crowd! Ack Willets, outgoing chair of the Derby Preview Party Comittee, was honored for his long-term and passionate commitment to the event. The Passportsponsored video featured Colleen, a former accountant, who was homeless with her young son and stuggling before finding Wellspring. She showed attendees how mental illness can strike anyone, but that recovery is possible! Thanks to Todd Asset Management for being our Bid For Recovery sponsor. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event a success. Your generosity will help Wellspring support adults on their road to mental health recovery in Louisville! We are so grateful for you! (See Colleen’s video on our website).

American Pharoah Sponsors

Secretariat Sponsor

Triple Crown Sponsors

Breeder’s Cup Sponsors

Stakes Race Sponsors

With Best Regards,

Wellspring & the Big Lebowski For the 2nd year in a row, Will Russell, creator of Lebowski Fest, will generously donate the proceeds from the garden party games portion of the upcoming Lebowski Fest to Wellspring! Wellspring volunteers will be helping out with the games night. Look for us on Friday, July 20th from 5:30pm – 10:00 pm at the Executive Lawn at 911 Phillips Lane. Thanks Will! The dude abides.

See the photos at: www.wellspringky.org/events ssdfdfff

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To make a gift visit our website at www.wellspringky.org - OR - write a check and mail it to Wellspring, PO Box 1927, Louisville, KY 40201 - OR - call 502-753-1457 and let us help you make a donation via credit card.

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