CrisisLink engages and empowers the community to help families, friends, and neighbors: people contemplating suicide, confronting traumatic loss, or simply needing someone with whom to talk. Handling more than 53,000 calls per year, CrisisLink also provides ongoing care for individuals and special populations at high risk for suicide, and it provides education and training to help prevent crises before they occur. Its 24/7 services fill critical gaps in the region’s mental health care system, particularly after hours and on weekends when other providers are unavailable. CrisisLink also helps people navigate an increasingly complex social services system by steering them to the right door the first time around. Even before the economic downturn, suicide was a serious public health problem, but studies suggest that unemployment and economic strain (loss of a home, personal financial crisis) are significant risk factors. It’s no wonder that the number of calls has dramatically increased and that this critical service is more essential than ever. "I'm listening" has a powerful, healing effect. Won't you join the conversation?
Now in its eighth year, the Catalogue has become a trusted resource, connecting smaller, community-based organizations with individual and foundation donors. According to Barbara Harman, President and Editor of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, "We know that many nonprofits have had a difficult year. For many, contributions are flat or down, and for some the decrease or loss of foundation or government funding has created significant budgetary challenges. Individual donors can make a real difference this year, keeping great organizations afloat during these tough times.” The Catalogue enables smaller non-profits to tell their stories to individuals who would otherwise never hear them, and to encourage those individuals to give. It also provides charities with a stamp of approval that tells donors they can invest with confidence because the Catalogue vets its family of nonprofits with great care.
25,000 individuals and hundreds of family foundations will receive copies of the Catalogue in November, and the Catalogue website (cfp-dc.org), will feature all 350 members of the Catalogue family. The site includes a gift registry and gift cards, a section especially for kids, and even a “donate now/decide later” fund that lets donors give in December and make their choices in January. Live links on nonprofit profile pages connect donors with volunteer opportunities, events, news, videos, and more. The Catalogue website is the broadest and deepest regional philanthropy site of its kind anywhere in the country.
Since its inception in 2003, the Catalogue has helped raise over $12.5 million for deserving, local, nonprofit organizations. "Charities were selected for excellence, cost-effectiveness, and impact" Harman said. “These are certainly among the best community-based nonprofits in the Greater Washington region.”
Make a Difference: Donate. Volunteer. Participate.
CrisisLink brings immediate help, hope, and healing to empower individuals facing serious life challenges, suicidal thoughts, emotional or situational problems. http://www.crisislink.org.
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