Shatter the Stigma Community Event, Motorcycle Ride and Rally for Mental Health Awareness

The Volunteer Services Council for Kerrville State Hospital is a nonprofit entity who just like so many nonprofits in the community rely on public support and donations to exist. We do not have paid employees and all of our funding comes from donations and fundraisers. This year instead of doing a gala we decided to do something different, we are holding a community event to raise awareness about the stigma of mental illness and the fact that mental illness knows no boundaries. Instead of a dance we are having a motorcycle rally for those who like to ride, we will also have the South Texas Bloodmobile, and Kristy Vandenberg (Ultimate Gift of Life) be at our event in addition to a live band, guest speakers, raffles and a silent auction.  This is where I am asking you to consider helping with our event in some way. We need people to come, this is the easy part, come out by a hamburger, listen to the band, bid on auction items, donate blood and listen to our guest speakers (the food will start being served at 11:30). If you are a rider, come ride with us, we are going to leave the HC Youth Exhibition Center, parade through the KSH grounds for the patients and then ride on Hwy 39 up to Garven store, back on 41, 27 and then back to the Center to join you for food and fun. We also need sponsors, as you can see from the attached information a sponsorship is as little as $125 and you have the privilege of including your information in a goodie bag for the riders who are participating. We need silent auction items, no item is too small or too big and we will arrange to pick up from you and deliver to the winner. You may work for a company that has paper products or can make up 150 tacos or maybe you would be willing to provide the lettuce and tomato or cheese, or maybe you can provide the bottled water or a canopy for people to sit under. No gift is too small. We also need to be able to get the word out through the community that this is a community event, so if you are in radio, the newspaper(s), own a magazine or have some other social media would you consider spreading the good news. With an event this big we also need volunteers, people with a passion to serve and help out.
 
And, finally, the best part of this is we all learn a little bit about the disease of mental illness, we have a great afternoon, we enjoy good food and we have helped another nonprofit achieve success by helping them do what they do best, serve the patients at the KSH.
 
If you have any questions you may call me at 830-895-2288 ext 305 or you may contact Caryn Talarico or Pete Calderon at 830-896-2211 ext 6269. We presently still need all of our top tier sponsors for the event. All donations and monies are tax deductible.