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Dear John,

Last week, you received an email marking the beginning of the annual Torrey Action Fund. Today, I want to share with you just how the legacy of care and compassion established by our founder, Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, is carried on by Treatment Advocacy Center to this day. The ethos of active listening and offering guidance, instilled by Dr. Torrey, forms the foundation of our work, distinguishing TAC within our community, and profoundly affecting families facing dire circumstances daily.

Every day, TAC's Helpline team receives countless emails and calls from individuals nationwide seeking advice on caring for their loved ones who are grappling with SMI. Many of these people are drawn to TAC because of Dr. Torrey, having heard him speak or read one of his books. They are, without exception, people who have exhausted all other options and feel they have no alternative avenues for support.

As one mother with an adult son with SMI recently shared, “I learned about TAC from reading Dr. Torrey’s book Surviving Schizophrenia. My husband and I have been dealing with our mentally ill son for years now. We've taken classes, joined support groups, listened to podcasts, and read many books on the subject.”

Care partners in these situations express sentiments of “losing hope, feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and powerless.” One parent reached out to TAC after they had not heard from their son with SMI for over 40 days; it's a scenario we frequently encounter, where family members are unaware of their loved one's whereabouts. We at TAC believe that everyone who reaches out matters. Inspired by Dr. Torrey, we always respond directly, listen with intention, and offer what has been called by many a “lifeline” they never knew was there.

Dr. Torrey is the beacon of TAC’s guiding principles. Thanks to Dr. Torrey's prescient vision, pioneering research, and relentless advocacy, we have witnessed tangible advancements in understanding and treating SMI. This progress offers further hope to the families and communities we serve.

We cannot carry Dr. Torrey’s torch alone. TAC’s programs and initiatives rely entirely on the generosity of individuals like you. Your support makes a profound and enduring difference in the lives of all those affected by SMI.

When you contribute to the Torrey Action Fund, you help expand access to quality care, champion much-needed policy changes, and provide crucial resources that families desperately need.

Together, we can continue to be a lifeline to all who need it, and we can create a world where people with SMI are afforded treatment, compassion, dignity, and a chance to embrace their fullest potential. Please consider joining us in honoring Dr. Torrey by donating to the Torrey Action Fund and supporting the vital work of TAC.

 

With heartfelt gratitude,


 

Kelly Russo
Director of Development