A Special Request From Our Executive Director

Dear Friends,

I am asking for your support of our largest fundraiser of the year, the 8th Annual NAMI Walk, this Sunday at the Waterfront.  

Each year the NAMI Walk raises an incredible amount of awareness for mental illness and helps to fund our programs throughout the entire year. 

 

How can you help?  In one of two ways: 

• You can walk with us on Sunday morning to raise awareness and celebrate recovery.  


• Or you can make a contribution directly to the NAMI Walk or to any of our teams or walkers.    

Every cent counts as we reach for our goal of raising $180,000 to support our mission of recovery focused support, education and advocacy. Thank you!

 

Sincerely,

Christine Michaels, MSHSA

Executive Director

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania

NAMI Walk on TV

Our 7th Annual NAMI Walk attracted more participants than ever to the SouthSide Works on Sunday. Take a look at the Walk featured on Channel 4 Action News.

Why Walk With NAMI?



It will be an amazing time on Sunday, Oct. 13 at the SouthSide Works beginning at 9 a.m.



With fun balloon art to entertain the kids...



And the hilarious Pirate Parrot to keep us laughing.



Teams will show their true colors: Mental Health Matters!

Caricature artists will capture the moment.

 



And of course there's an invigorating 5K walk along the river trail.





And complimentary refreshments, delicious hot coffee and hot chocolate.





Don't forget the face painting!

FREE flu shots provided by UPMC!

 

 

And lots of love to go around.

 

Grab a quick chair massage.



 

There will be music and maybe some dancing.



And definitely jumping for the kids!



It's truly a celebration!

Empowering.

Inspiring.



And meaningful: all proceeds benefit the mission of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania to improve the lives of families and individuals affected by mental illness.

 


On your mark, get set... WALK!

www.namiwalks.org/SouthwesternPennsylvania

Join Us for a Pasta Dinner with NAMI

 

Join us at one of the best Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh for a NAMI fundraising dinner. Enjoy a delicious pasta dinner at Carbonera's Ristorante in Mt. Lebanon on Saturday, Sept. 21 between 3 and 5 p.m. Your donation of $20 benefits NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania and includes:

• Pasta dinner with meatball or sausage
• Tomato, marinara or meat sauce
• Salad
• Garlic Toast
• Soft drink
• Satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a great cause!

Gratuity and bar drinks are not included, and there is a small upcharge if you request gluten free or whole wheat pasta.

Please share this with your family and friends. To make your reservation, contact Jeff at jfitzwilliam@cartallegheny.org or (412) 348-0126 ext. 208.

New Contest for NAMI Walk

The NAMI Walk has awarded its first set of Steeler tickets this year. Now it's your turn to win!

Any person who registers a team on the NAMI Walk website, and whose team has at least $100 posted in online donations, will qualify to win. Deadline to qualify is Sunday, Aug. 18. One winner will receive three tickets to the Aug. 24 pre-season game between the Steelers and Kansas City. Winner to be drawn and announced on Monday, Aug. 19.

Good luck, team captains! Special thanks to Ray and Harriet Baum for donating the Steeler tickets.

NAMI Walk Contest: Win Steeler Tickets!

Today marks the first day of Steelers Training Camp! If you are a returning Team Captain, or would like to lead a team at this year's NAMI Walk, you can qualify to win 3 tickets to the first pre-season home game (Steelers vs. Giants) on August 10. Here's what to do:

Get a head start and register your team for the NAMI Walk on Sunday, Oct. 13.

1) Visit our Walk Website
2) Click "Register to Walk"
3) Follow the directions and register your team

(For Registration Type, select Register and Create a Team.)

The contest runs through Friday, Aug. 2 with one winner to be announced on Monday, Aug. 5.

Remember, the first thing a walker should do is make a donation. As the leader of your team, set an example by making your own personal donation so that others will see your level of commitment.

Special thank you to Ray and Harriet Baum for their generous donation of the Steeler tickets.

Walk Donors Can Win $500 Shopping Spree!

Any donor who makes a $25 online donation to our NAMI Walk between today, Oct. 11, and Monday, Oct. 15 will go in the drawing to win a fabulous prize package:

$500 Shopping Spree ($100 gift cards to Macy's, Home Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods and Barnes & Noble; $50 gift cards to JC Penney and Kohl's)

Dinner at Morton's Steakhouse in downtown Pittsburgh ($150 gift certificate)

Front row center seats at the Benedum Center for Sister Act on Thursday, Feb. 7.

Wow, what a great prize package, and ANYONE who donates to the NAMI Walk website can win. Good luck! Thank you to Dr. Curtis Mayernik for generously donating this prize package.

Winner to be drawn on Tuesday, Oct. 16. 

Why Walk with NAMI?

It will be an amazing time this Sunday, Oct. 14 at the SouthSide Works beginning at 9 a.m.



With fun balloon art to entertain the kids... 



And the hilarious Pirate Parrot to keep us laughing. 

Teams will show their true colors: Mental Health Matters!

Caricature artists will capture the moment.



And of course there's an invigorating 5K walk along the river trail.

And complimentary refreshments, delicious hot coffee and hot chocolate.

Don't forget the face painting!

Free flu shots provided by UPMC for everyone. 

And lots of love to go around!

Grab a quick chair massage. Learn about Reiki, too!



While the kids get colorful tattoos. 

Featuring Michelle Wright, our lovely Honorary Chair from WTAE-TV.

Yes, it feels great to celebrate recovery.

There will be music and maybe even some dancing!

And definitely jumping for the kids! 



It's truly a celebration!

Empowering.

Inspiring.

And meaningful: all proceeds benefit the mission of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania to improve the lives of families and individuals affected by mental illness.

On your mark, get set... WALK!
www.namiwalks.org/southwesternpennsylvania

Win an iPad from NAMI

That's right YOU can win an Apple iPad from NAMI. All you need to do is this:

Register for the NAMI Walk and raise $50 online between Sept. 12 and Sept. 28.

Yep, that's all you need to do to qualify to win. In fact, every $50 donation in that time frame earns you a chance to win. So if you raise $100, you get two chances to win. If you raise $500, your name goes in the drawing 10 times.

The single best way to raise funds online? Write about it! That's right. Click here for tips on writing an email or letter that is sure to qualify you for this iPad promotion while at the same time supporting NAMI's mission of support, education and advocacy for families and individuals affected by mental illness.

For more information about the NAMI Walk, call (412) 366-3788 or email info@namiswpa.org. 

Win a Cruise Vacation from NAMI

 

As announced at the NAMI Walk Kickoff Luncheon on Tuesday, Aug. 21, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is giving away not one, not two but THREE cruise vacation packages*. All you need to do to qualify is:

 

1. Register for the NAMI Walk at the new walk website

2. Raise at least $50 in online donations

3. Do this by midnight on Friday, Sept. 7

As a bonus, you can earn more chances to win with each additional $50 online donation. For example, if you raise $100 online by Sept. 7, your name goes into the drawing twice. If you raise $500 by then, you will get 10 chances to win! Three winners will be drawn and announced the week of Sept. 10.

Don't delay: check out our new and improved walk website today and register!

*Cruises donated by National NAMI Walk Sponsor Sunrise Premiums. Fees and restrictions apply. For a detailed cruise flyer and brochure, email info@namiswpa.org.
 

Win a Kindle from NAMI

We are in the heart of our sponsorship campaign for the 6th Annual NAMI Walk on Sunday, Oct. 14 and need your help! Follow these three steps and get your name in the drawing to win a Kindle. So far we only have a few entries, so your odds are great. Here's what you do:

1. Call or email us today to receive NAMI Walk Sponsorship Brochures.

2. Give a brochure to a local business or organization where you have a connection: your place of work, your salon, your doctor's office or any business you frequent. Ask them to support the Walk!

3. Email us their name and contact information by the end of the day on Tuesday, July 31. For each contact you forward to us, your name goes into the drawing once. So if you turn in five names, you get five chances to win the Kindle.

That's all you need to do; we will follow up with them. To reach us, call (412) 366-3788 ext. 23 or email dgarda@namiswpa.org.  Good luck!

Join Us On Walk Day!

Visit our walk website for more information! 

The NAMI Walk is the one day each year that we celebrate recovery in a big way! Thousands of people join us at the SouthSide Works for a wonderful morning of laughter and fun. You can expect the great feeling of being part of something special and rewarding.

Special Note:  Our location has been moved ONE BLOCK. If you look at the site map, we are now located on the Temporary Surface Lot. Look for the colorful balloon arch and listen for high energy music, and you'll find us! Four parking garages are within walking distance and charge $3 on Sundays.

Registration and activities run from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The walk starts promptly at 10 a.m. You will walk 1.5 miles down the river trail and 1.5 miles back. If you are unable to walk that distance, feel free to turn around early or stay back and enjoy music and refreshments with staff and volunteers.

The walk features fun activities and special guests including:

- Our Amazing NAMI Walk Chairs
- Miss Pennsylvania Juliann Sheldon
- Singer John Tucci
- The Four Fun Loving Pittsburgh Pierogies
- Complimentary Breakfast Refreshments
- Reiki and Massage Tent
- Moon Bounce
- Face Painting and Tattoos
- Caricature Artist (complements of Community Care)
- Mike the Balloon Guy
- Sponsor Exhibits (with giveaways and promotions)
- Team Photos
- High Energy Music
- Raffle Drawing (after the walk)

We hope to see you there! If you haven't already registered, click here to join us!

Another Chance to Win Steeler Tickets!

The 5th Annual NAMI Walk is two weeks away! Taking place at the SouthSide Works on Sunday, Oct. 2, this is our biggest awareness raising event and fundraiser of the year.

Our latest promotion is this: for every $25 online contribution, that donor receives one chance to win two Steeler tickets. Example: if a person makes a $100 online donation, he or she earns four chances to win.

Steelers vs. Rams

Saturday, Dec. 24

1 p.m. 

Visit our NAMI Walk website and register today! If you cannot join us at the walk, Find a Walker to support or make a general contribution to the walk. You will still qualify for the Steeler promotion. Good luck and thank you!

Special thanks to our generous donors Ralph and Mary Ann Farmerie.