The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado has selected the Larimer Center for Mental Health as its 2008 Agency of Distinction Award winner. The award recognizes the Center for its excellence in service to the community.

TIn addition to the award, the Community Foundation has offered the Center a $70,000 challenge grant, offering $1 for every $2 raised for the Larimer Center for Mental Health Endowment Fund. "We hope that this challenge will help the organization rise to the next level - expanding its commitment to excellence in mental health care to even more people in our community," says Ray Caraway, president of the Community Foundation. "All of us at the Community Foundation are privileged to be associated with great nonprofit organizations, and LCMH is among the best in our community."

One in four U.S. families has someone who has mental illness and 26% of American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. "Mental illness is a disease. It can have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and our whole community," says Ratliff. "Yet despite its prevalence, too many go without treatment. In Colorado, nearly 67,000 people go without the mental health treatment they need. The worst part about this is that mental illness is so treatable."

In fact, treatments for people with serious mental illnesses are 70% to 90% effective. Through the Larimer Center for Mental Health Endowment Fund, the Center hopes to bring the life transforming and life saving treatment to all in our community who need it.

For more information about Larimer Center for Mental Health or the Center's Endowment Fund, contact Emily Dawson Petersen, Director of Development and Marketing at (970) 494-4226.