Dear Friends,

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports a shocking and disproportionate increase in addiction and adverse mental health conditions across the United States because of the pandemic.

For example:

• Heavy drinking among women increased 41% in 2020.

• Worry about COVID-19 has significantly increased depression & anxiety.

• The number of Americans reporting starting or increasing substance use is up 13% since March.

With more people living alone or isolated, the threat grows greater by the day.

Here is what Hazelden Betty Ford is doing about this crisis and why I'm writing you to ask for your immediate help.

Specifically, we are increasing the number of scholarships to graduate students in order to meet the increased need for trained addiction counselors.

These financial scholarships will enable talented and committed individuals to enroll in the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies and provide highly skilled addiction counseling to more patients in need.

And here’s the great news:

An extraordinarily generous group of donors have stepped up to help meet the crisis by offering a $100,000 Matching Gift Challenge for all contributions for scholarships from caring friends like you.

That's right. Your gift to help us increase the number of trained addiction counselors will be doubled.

• Your gift of $500 becomes $1,000

• Your gift of $400 becomes $800

• Your gift of $200 becomes $400

• Your gift of $100 becomes $200

In 2020, our Graduate School of Addiction Studies granted 46 master’s degrees in addiction counseling. But, with the impact of this pandemic, it's not nearly enough. We must do more!

That’s why I am asking your help to meet this crisis through your generosity today.

I hope we can count on your understanding, commitment and help.