Grabie Art Fund Supports Nassau County Youth Mental Health Summit

 Dear Grabie,

On behalf of Creative Arts Networks, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous contribution to the Nassau County Youth Mental Health Summit in March 2024, as well as our ongoing programs in partnership with The Family and Children’s Association of Long Island.

Your donation of art supplies played a pivotal role in our efforts to bring art therapy to hundreds of teens from schools across Long Island who attended the Nassau County Youth Mental Health Summit. The impact of these supplies was immeasurable, enriching our workshops and group sessions significantly.

Thanks to your support, we were able to provide 270 high school students with their own art therapy toolboxes, allowing them to create personalized journals and explore self-expression through creative writing and drawing. The feedback from students as well as staff has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how this experience helped them reconnect with themselves and discover art as a therapeutic outlet.

Additionally, your contribution enabled us to organize monthly art therapy sessions at FCA for PACT, a program dedicated to supporting at-risk youth aged 10-21 who are pregnant, parenting, or at risk of pregnancy. The art supplies provided were instrumental in helping teen mothers express themselves and strengthen their bonds with their children through creative activities like scrapbooking.

Moreover, at FCA’s cultural day "Art Festival," your donation allowed us to supply every family with art materials, fostering a sense of community and resilience among participants. The event promoted connection and diversity, further enriching our community outreach efforts.

Your kindness and support have had a profound impact on the youth in our community, enabling us to promote mental health awareness, self-expression, and resilience through art therapy. We are truly grateful for your generosity and look forward to continuing our work together to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.

Thank you once again for your invaluable support with these supplies.  Thank you for connecting with The American Art Therapy Association to provide their membership with this opportunity.  I am truly appreciative!!

Warm regards,

Susan Kappel

Susan Boxer Kappel MA,ATR-BC,LCAT,CGP,CCATP,CMNCS
Clinical Director, Founder Creative Arts Networks LLC, 

Chair, New York State Board for Mental Health Practitioners 
World Cares Mental Health Advisory Board

Clinical Supervisor, Hofstra University 
Counseling and Mental Health Professions Clinic
Saltzman Community Services Center