So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For self-assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions
So everybody put your best suit or dress on
Let’s make believe that we are wealthy for just this once
Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn
As thirty dialogues bleed into one
I wish the world was flat like the old days
Then I could travel just by folding a map
No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways
There’d be no distance that could hold us back.
– DCFC – The New Year –
So we’ve got a lot of stuff on tap, and I am finally getting a chance to figure out what 2012 is going to look like for the LIPF. If you haven’t noticed already, take a look at the events page for what we are thinking for 2012. Lots of really great stuff happening!
We are also going to be migrating the website to a more robust platform to allow for you to share your comments on the blog. I would also like to open up the discussion for 2012 to allow you to share your own stories. Over the course of the last several months, I have learned a lot about myself and also about other people who have been impacted by depression and suicide.
As recently as Wednesday, I learned of a friend who lost their very close friend to suicide on David’s birthday. I’ve learned about a few people I have known for years who also lost a brother or sister to suicide, and some of you have shared your own stories with me about your battles with depression and suicidal thoughts and attempts.
As a result, we are going to open up more channels on how to seek professional help and provide resources for people who are suffering and for their family and friends who are suffering with them. Obviously, there is some legal ramifications for doing so, so we are working with our lawyers on the guidelines on how to best do this. But expect in the next six months to see an American Psychiatric Association board-certified M.D. providing real world guidance and information that you can put into use in the battle against depression and suicide. We want LIPF to become a trusted resource, as well as all the things you have come to know it as thus far.
As you probably know, the IRS granted our 401(c) status, and we are going to be growing the Foundation aggressively in 2012. It is my hope that we are able to triple and quadruple the awareness of the foundation and be on a perpetual state of fundraising so that we are able to put your generous donations to work in helping others.
Towards the later half of this year, we will also be rolling out a “Host your own LIPF fundraiser,” which will allow those who are so inclined to host “micro-drives” and to continue to tell David’s story, in honor of his struggle, with things you are passionate about to your friends, colleagues, and families. We’ll have tools in place for you to plan and manage your own event. One thing that clearly resonated these last few months is how many people want to do something for the organization, and while we have our major events, there was a ton of really great ideas that we could not realistically execute based on our current size, our day jobs, etc.
So in summation, I think we are poised to do some great things for 2012, and Sue and I have set some pretty lofty goals for ourselves and the Foundation. We hope that you will grow with us as we “turn the volume up… WAY UP” as I like to say and that you will be a part of our healing, our learning, and our relentless pursuit to finding new and better ways to help people who are suffering from depression and suicide.
It’s your words and actions that help me get through each and every day, and for that I am extremely thankful. Here’s to a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year.
TP
