Adolescent Counseling Services to host annual fundraising luncheon, Spring for Support
The nonprofit agency prioritizes teen mental wellness and the need for more funding at free community fundraiser
PALO ALTO, Calif. — Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), a nonprofit agency delivering comprehensive mental health services to help individuals grow and thrive during the challenges of youth, will hold its annual fundraising luncheon, Spring for Support, on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto. ACS aims to raise at least $140,000 to continue support of its four programs, which serve 5,000 teens and their family members annually on the San Francisco Peninsula.
The free one-hour luncheon will not only celebrate ACS’ recent accomplishments, which include the establishment of a formal clinical training program for mental health professionals, the ACS Institute of Psychotherapy and Training, but will also highlight the importance of mental wellness and the need for continued funding for ACS’ programs.
“Mental wellness is so critical to the wellbeing of our community,” says ACS’ Executive Director, Philippe Rey, who recently celebrated his 20th year working for ACS. “It’s no secret that depression and anxiety are major issues in our community. How long will we keep the wool over our eyes about the mental health crisis affecting teens in this valley? Many people think that academic achievement is the most important thing in our kids’ lives, but mental health can set the tone of a young person’s life for years to come. It takes all of us to make a commitment and invest in the mental health of our community’s youth, who are the leaders of our future.”
Proceeds from Spring for Support directly benefit ACS’ four programs: the Community Counseling Program, providing affordable individual and family therapy in afternoon and evening hours; the On-Campus Counseling Program, providing free counseling on-site at participating secondary schools; the Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program, offering assessment and outpatient treatment for youth struggling with substance abuse; and the Outlet Program, facilitating support groups, leadership development, and educational resources to LGBTQ+ teens and community allies.
ACS is grateful to the sponsors whose generous support make Spring for Support possible. 2019 Sponsors include the Palo Alto Medical Foundation as an Empowerment Sponsor, the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital as a Community Sponsor, and both Presidio Bank and the Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich, and Rosati Foundation as Support Sponsors.
Event entry is free to all community members and multiple levels of table sponsorship are available. For more event information or to reserve a seat, please visit www.acs-teens.org/SFS2019. To learn more about ACS, please visit www.acs-teens.org or call 650.424.0852.
Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) exists to support the wellbeing of all teens, tweens, and young adults in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Established in 1975, ACS’ networks of skilled family therapists and professionally-led support groups have continuously been a resource that youth and families can rely on. Trained professionals facilitate on-campus and after-school counseling, substance abuse treatment, LGBTQQ+ support services, and community education programs. ACS support youth to overcome obstacles, develop confidence and be empowered to build happy, healthy futures.
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