Our guest speakers for our May 3 membership meeting were Tammy Farmer and Ann Rogers of the Beacon Tree Foundation. The Beacon Tree Foundation is a non-profit youth mental health organization started in 2008 by Tom and Diane Leahy. Its mission is to provide education, advocacy, access and funding for Central Virginia families whose children up to age 21 who are struggling with mental illness.
Tammy and Ann told of their personal struggles with family members who suffered from depression and mental health issues which often lead to addiction and suicide. They are now helping others navigate the resources available in order to obtain the help and counseling needed to deal with and help their family members.
Beacon Tree supports families through its various programs:
• The Family Grant Program to help families fund treatment for their children
at residential treatment facilities, therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness programs 
or other long-term, in-patient programs!
• Operation On-Ramp, an initiative to help families pay for initial psychological
evaluations, essential to early detection and successful treatment of mental health
issues!
• The Beacon Tree Scholarship, awarded each year to a college-bound high school
senior who has overcome a significant personal challenge!
