Dear John,

Joan C. Scott understood the world of severe mental illness through the lens of a mother. The mental health care system failed her son repeatedly, hospitalizing him and releasing him 23 times before he ultimately killed his father, Joan’s husband of 57 years.

She reached out to Treatment Advocacy Center by email to ask: “Do you have any suggestions? What can I do to help stop tragedy?” Joan came to count on Treatment Advocacy Center for help — we brainstormed with her personally and worked to reform laws in her state to better serve families like hers. When Joan passed away last year, she left a generous bequest of $766,000 to Treatment Advocacy Center.

Inspired by her example, we are launching the virtual Joan C. Scott Family Resource Center next year to honor Joan and use her gift to help families struggling like hers. This center will provide a wide variety of resources to aid families in helping their loved ones with SMI; audio, video and written resources in multiple languages. It is all designed to help families like Joan’s break through the barriers to effective treatment for their loved ones.

Treatment Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization, which means we rely on the generosity of our donors to support all the work we do. Whether you can give $7 or $700,000, here are some of the ways you can support our work:

Make a one-time donation. Donate now to help us meet our $150,000 goal before the end of the year!
Set up a monthly donation. Monthly donations set us up for long-term success.
Donate stock. Donating stock or other appreciated assets is an effective way to procure valuable tax benefits while making an important contribution to our ongoing work.
Legacy giving. When you include us in your will, retirement plan or life insurance, your legacy lives on, helping those affected by SMI.
Workplace giving. Support our work with corporate giving campaigns or take advantage of your workplace’s matching gifts program.
Shop online. Sign up for the Amazon Smile program and support Treatment Advocacy Center every time you shop on Amazon - at no extra cost to you.
Long-Term Sustainability Fund. Overseen by our board of directors, the Sustainability Fund ensures our organization will be financially secure, even during market downturns or times of economic instability.

Joan understood the revolving door of hospitalization and incarceration experienced by those with SMI and dedicated her life and legacy to making things better. Her financial support, along with the support of all our generous donors, allows us to continue to educate and advocate for families who may feel alone navigating SMI.

However you choose to give, I’m grateful for your generous support. You can always reach out to me directly with questions or ideas for being a part of our work.

Thank you for all that you do,