John Turner/Special to The Citizen
AUBURN - Next to heart disease, mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
Terri Wasilenko, founder of the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill of Cayuga County, shared that surprising fact at the first annual Celebration for Hope and Recovery held Saturday evening at the Holiday Inn.
“Building awareness one day at a time” was the theme of the fundraiser, and patrons from across Cayuga County and beyond attended the event to lend their support.
Attendees were treated to hors d'oeuvres, speakers, a performance by Auburn's Absolute Dance Company, and music and dancing provided by a local DJ.
The celebration began with the serving of appetizers, during which supporters bid on items that were part of a silent auction.
The sale was sponsored by local merchants such as the Bluewater Grill, Laura's Hallmark and the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, among others.
After Wasilenko spoke briefly, the Absolute Dance troupe presented an hour-long recital.
Led by choreographer Yvonne Villano-Hassett, the troupe performed dances from various Broadway musicals, such as “Smokey Joe's Cafe” and “Chicago,” along with Bill Joel's “Movin' Out.”
As a finale, the company performed an original piece, “Hope & Recovery - A Dedication to NAMI.”
After the recital, NAMI accepted last-minute bids on the silent auction items, then the winners were announced.
The evening was rounded out with music and dancing provided by DJ Jane Stebbins of Charlie's CDs in Auburn.
“Tonight is all about awareness and education for the community,” Wasilenko said.
“We simply want to put mental health care on the front burner, and we want people to realize that it's a high priority.”
Among the little-known facts Wasilenko presented, she revealed that two-thirds of the cases of mental illness in the U.S. are never reported.
Among the programs that NAMI of Cayuga County sponsors is a family support group, which meets twice monthly at Auburn Memorial Hospital, and an intense family-to-family program, Wasilenko said.
The Family-to-Family program consists of four trainers who take professional counseling classes bi-annually at Name's state office in Albany.
Those instructors help families of patients communicate better, learn about available resources, and develop a system of self-care, Wasilenko said.
Terri Wasilenko, founder of the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill of Cayuga County, shared that surprising fact at the first annual Celebration for Hope and Recovery held Saturday evening at the Holiday Inn.
“Building awareness one day at a time” was the theme of the fundraiser, and patrons from across Cayuga County and beyond attended the event to lend their support.
Attendees were treated to hors d'oeuvres, speakers, a performance by Auburn's Absolute Dance Company, and music and dancing provided by a local DJ.
The celebration began with the serving of appetizers, during which supporters bid on items that were part of a silent auction.
The sale was sponsored by local merchants such as the Bluewater Grill, Laura's Hallmark and the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, among others.
After Wasilenko spoke briefly, the Absolute Dance troupe presented an hour-long recital.
Led by choreographer Yvonne Villano-Hassett, the troupe performed dances from various Broadway musicals, such as “Smokey Joe's Cafe” and “Chicago,” along with Bill Joel's “Movin' Out.”
As a finale, the company performed an original piece, “Hope & Recovery - A Dedication to NAMI.”
After the recital, NAMI accepted last-minute bids on the silent auction items, then the winners were announced.
The evening was rounded out with music and dancing provided by DJ Jane Stebbins of Charlie's CDs in Auburn.
“Tonight is all about awareness and education for the community,” Wasilenko said.
“We simply want to put mental health care on the front burner, and we want people to realize that it's a high priority.”
Among the little-known facts Wasilenko presented, she revealed that two-thirds of the cases of mental illness in the U.S. are never reported.
Among the programs that NAMI of Cayuga County sponsors is a family support group, which meets twice monthly at Auburn Memorial Hospital, and an intense family-to-family program, Wasilenko said.
The Family-to-Family program consists of four trainers who take professional counseling classes bi-annually at Name's state office in Albany.
Those instructors help families of patients communicate better, learn about available resources, and develop a system of self-care, Wasilenko said.
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