The SMA Healthcare Foundation (the Foundation) honored Larry Kelly at its annual dinner celebration and auction on July 3^rd, with the presentation of the Benny Parsons Award, followed by the surprise announcement of the establishment of the Larry and Joan Kelly Scholarship Fund. 

The Benny Parsons Award was presented in appreciation for Mr. Kelly’s remarkable commitment to SMA Healthcare, the SMA Healthcare Foundation, and our community. Mr. Kelly served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors since 1999, and after 55 years of service to the community, recently resigned to “turn some things over to the next generation”. 

“Presentation of the Penny Parsons Award, after all the years of service and significant contributions to SMA, just didn’t seem like enough” states Carl Lentz, IV, the SMA Healthcare Foundation’s Chairman of the Board, “we knew we had to do more to say thank you, to honor both Larry and his late wife Joan.”

The Larry and Joan Kelly Scholarship Fund will be used to provide a minimum of $1,500 annually to a student either already enrolled or enrolling in nursing courses with a focus on behavioral health. A lead gift of $10,000 was received from the Perryman Family Foundation to kick off the scholarship, and another $6,900 was raised with the auction of teddy bears at the dinner.  With each bear auctioned, a child of a mother in SMA’s WARM (Women Assisting Recovering Mothers) program will receive a bear of their own, and all funds raised go directly into the fund.    

Mr. Kelly was instrumental in helping with the initial discussions between the Foundation and Michelle and Vince Carter for the capital campaign that built the Vince Carter Sanctuary, which now houses WARM. Mrs. Kelly was a long-time volunteer with the WARM program, where she loved the children and shared with clients many stories of her career as a nurse. 

“Incorporating the auction of teddy bears for the kids at WARM in order to raise funds for a scholarship fund for nursing seemed like a great way to honor Joan” said Jennifer Secor, Executive Director of the Foundation. “and we are thrilled that the bears were such a great success.”

The SMA Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce Jeff Burton, NASCAR on NBC Announcer and former NASCAR Driver, as the honoree at their Annual Dinner Celebration & Auction.

The event is presented by title sponsor, Brown & Brown Insurance, and is scheduled for Wednesday, July 3 at the DAYTONA 500 Club at Daytona International Speedway. Activities will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour for all attendees, followed by dinner and program at 7 p.m. Live music will be performed during the social hour by local country artist, Karegan. The theme is “Red, White and Blue Jeans”.

Held every year as part of the summer races at Daytona International Speedway, this fundraising event draws over 400 attendees and is supported by numerous business and individuals in the community. “We are proud of the support of our community and sponsors” states Jennifer Secor, Executive Director of the SMA Foundation, “and we want to offer them a great experience when they come out to our events”.

The live auction is one of the most popular activities during the evening. Some of the items being presented for auction on July 3rd are:

• All-Access NASCAR TV Experience at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Weekend for Four (4). This includes 4 hot passes (allowing guests access to Garages and Pit Road), 4 tickets to the XFINITY RACE and CUP RACE, an exclusive tour of the NBC TV Compound and inside the LIVE Race Truck during one of the NBC broadcast events, and exclusive tour of the LIVE TV Broadcast Booth.

• Handmade leather DAYTONA 500 champion jacket, autographed by 2019 DAYTONA 500 winner, Denny Hamlin

• Hot laps on Coke Zero Sugar 400 race day with a celebrity driver (TBA).

Sponsorship opportunities and corporate tables are available, starting at $1,500. Individual seats $200.

For more information about the event, please contact Cyndi Hines, Public Relations and Events Specialist, at 386-254-1136, or email chines@smahealthcare.org.

SMA Healthcare Foundation is a 501C-3 corporation and is eligible for tax-exempted contributions by the US Internal Revenue Service. They accept cash donations, stocks and securities, as well as land and property. They can be found online at http://www.smafoundation.com or reached via telephone at 386-254-1136.

The SMA Healthcare Foundation (the Foundation) is pleased to announce its 4th Annual Who is Jay? Mental Health Symposium to be held at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach on Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The symposium, titled Transforming Lives Through Hope & Healing, is open to the community, and media is welcome.  Held in May as part of National Mental Health Month activities, the symposium is designed to bring awareness, education, and inspiration. The opening keynote speaker is Sam Tsemberis, Ph.D. Dr. Tsemberis is presenting “Transforming Systems and Changing Lives”, explaining how a person-centered approach to engagement, treatment and housing has proven effective in turning treatment failures into a success. The keynote speaker over lunch is Joshua Rivedal, actor and author. Josh will present “Navigating Out of the Ocean of Why – Making Meaning After a Suicide Loss”, a combination of his one-man Broadway style play and a keynote that provides the powerful message that suicide is preventable when we speak out, and the journey or process that helps make meaning after a suicide loss. Presentations throughout the day will include the following:

• Ending the Criminalization of Mental Illness, presented by Judge Steven Leifman, Administrative Judge for the 11^th Judicial Circuit of Florida, overseeing the Miami-Dade Mental Health Court
• Introduction to Mental Health First Aid, presented by SMA’s Salvatore Gintoli and Shawn Proctor
• Research Updates in Behavioral Health, presented by Sara Jo Nixon, Ph.D., University of Florida’s Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute
• The Great Divorce: Faith and Mental Health, presented by Dean Kate Moorehead, St. John’s Cathedral Episcopal Diocese of Florida in Jacksonville

“We are excited to bring such high caliber speakers from around the US and the State of Florida to our community” said Jennifer Secor, Executive Director of the Foundation. “The symposium was designed to bring mental health awareness and education to our community, and to touch on current and relevant topics.” The cost to attend is $45 if registered and paid on or before April 12 ($55 after). Students are $25, and NAMI members can attend for free.  The registration fee includes the full day of speakers and presentations, parking at the Ocean Center, lunch and refreshments.  All attendees will also receive a free copy of Josh Rivedal’s The i’Mpossible Project Lemonade Stand: Volume I. For behavioral health professionals, they can also earn up to 5.25 CEU’s.  To register, please visit https://www.whoisjay.org/2018-mental-health-symposium/ and click on the registration link. Sam Tsemberis is a clinical psychologist who developed the “Housing First” model. He serves as President of the Pathways Housing First Institute and on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry, New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center.  Dr. Tsemberis also serves as Executive Director of the VA-UCLA Center of Excellence for Training and Research at the Greater Los Angeles VA.   Dr. Tsemberis has published numerous articles and book chapters, and two books: Housing First by Hazelden Publishing, and with Drs. Padgett and Henwood Housing First by Oxford University Press.   He has received wide recognition and media coverage for his work, including the Distinguished Contribution to Independent Practice Award from the American Psychological Association and the Meritorious Service Cross from the Government of Canada. Josh Rivedal is the creator and founder of Changing Minds: A Mental Health Based Curriculum and The i’Mpossible Project. He is trained in community counseling from the Southern California Counseling Center; human capital management with an emphasis in coaching from NYU; and is also trained in QPR, ASIST, and the teacher’s edition of emotional intelligence at Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence. He has spoken about suicide prevention, mental health, diversity, anti-bullying, and storytelling across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. He currently serves on the advisory board of Docz, a startup peer-to-peer mental health app. He wrote and developed the one-man play, Kicking My Blue Genes in The Butt, which has toured extensively throughout the world paired with suicide prevention education. His memoir The Gospel According to Josh: A 28-Year Gentile Bar Mitzvah, based on his one-man play, is on The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s recommended reading list. His second book, The i’Mpossible Project: Volume 1—Reengaging with Life, Creating a New You, debuted #1 in its category on Amazon in January 2016. Three more editions of The i’Mpossible Project have been published including Lemonade Stand: Volume I. He is the co-author of two journal papers, one on the trajectory of the survivor of suicide loss, the other on surviving trauma. The Who is Jay? mental health awareness campaign started in May 2015 with a few billboards and t-shirts directing individuals to a website with mental health resources. To date the site has over 24,000 visits.  In 2016 there was the addition of a half day mental health symposium held in St. Augustine.  In 2017 the event was moved to the Ocean Center and expanded to include a full day symposium with national speakers.  “The Who is Jay? mental health awareness campaign and symposium continues its annual growth and has become an incredible outreach tool for SMA Healthcare and the SMA Healthcare Foundation” said Carl Lentz, Chairman of the Board for the Foundation. “The Foundation is committed to supporting this wonderful endeavor in hopes to reach all those affected in our area.” Funding for the event is provided in part by the Jay’s Hope Fund, which is managed by the SMA Healthcare Foundation, registration fees and sponsorships. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact Cyndi Hines, Public Relations & Events Specialist at SMA Healthcare Foundation 386-254-1136 or chines@smahealthcare.org.  For more details about the event, please visit www.SMAFoundation.com or www.whoisjay.org. If you are interested in supporting SMA Healthcare and the SMA Healthcare Foundation, please contact Jennifer Secor, CFRE, Executive Director, at 386-254-1139 or jsecor@smahealthcare.org.

Stewart-Marchman-Act (SMA) Behavioral Health Services, Inc., the local provider of comprehensive quality mental health and substance abuse treatment services for more than 50 years, announced today the launch of a new name in an effort to improve their brand identity. The organization will now be known simply as SMA Healthcare. This name change will be reflected in their new logo, and domain name (www.SMAhealthcare.org). The name SMA Healthcare represents the evolution of the agency, which has grown to nearly 900 employees as a result of multiple mergers and acquisitions over the last decade. This growth necessitated the organization’s strategic restructure in 2016, placing an executive manager in each of the four counties served – Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia. Soon thereafter, administrative offices were relocated to increase available outpatient service space in Daytona Beach, allowing for consolidation of East Volusia outpatient services on the agency’s original site at 1220 Willis Avenue. This location is now home to a primary health clinic, as well as treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. While the reputation and equity built under the previous moniker is a valuable asset, the new name more accurately reflects the organization’s complex array of services and geographic reach. “Over the past 50 years, we’ve grown in scope, size, and region of service,” said Ivan Cosimi, SMA Healthcare CEO. “Our market research indicates that evolving our name is the appropriate strategic move for us. It is important that we represent our services accurately as we pursue new avenues of funding to support our service array, and that we remain easily identifiable in the minds of our clients and our community.” This effort embodies an organization that is reinventing itself, but is still very committed to its community behavioral health roots. SMA Healthcare will build upon its history of excellence, service, and quality care, while keeping the door open to future opportunities. “Our commitment to the community we serve will not change,” said Cosimi, “there is incredible potential to grow. Our efforts to accurately represent the services we provide will position us for those opportunities.” Following suit, the Stewart Marchman Act Foundation, a single purpose foundation that has supported the efforts of the healthcare agency since 1997, will now be known as the SMA Healthcare Foundation.

The Stewart Marchman-Act Foundation (SMA Foundation) is pleased to announce the details of their 20^th Annual Dinner Celebration and Auction. This year’s dinner honors Rusty Wallace, NASCAR Champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee, and features guest speaker, David A. Siegel, Founder, President and CEO of Westgate Resorts. The event is presented by title sponsor, Brown & Brown Insurance, and is scheduled for Wednesday, June 27 at the DAYTONA 500 Club at Daytona International Speedway.  Activities will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour for all attendees, followed by dinner and program at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “All About the 20’s: Celebrating the SMA Foundation’s 20^th Anniversary”.  Live 20s-era jazz music will be performed from 6-7pm by local musicians, Daniel “Saxman” Fuqua and J. Muzic Carson. David Siegel will address the Opioid Crisis in our communities and nation. “The opioid epidemic affects individuals, their families and friends and does not discriminate.  SMA and the Foundation are helping to provide the resources necessary to assist those in our community overcome addiction and live healthy lives” said Carl Lentz, Chairman of the Board for the SMA Foundation, “making it a priority for the Foundation’s current fundraising efforts”. The funds raised will be used to support the immediate needs of SMA’s programs and services. Held every year as part of the Summer races at Daytona International Speedway, this fundraising event draws over 400 attendees each year and is supported by numerous business and individuals in the community. “We are proud of the support of our community and sponsors” states Jennifer Secor, Executive Director of the SMA Foundation, “and we want to offer them a great experience when they come out to our events”. The live auction is one of the most popular activities during the evening. Some of the items being presented for auction on June 27 are:

• A limited edition Peavey Composite Acoustics guitar, autographed by all artists who performed at the 2018 Country 500, including headliners Toby Keith, Chris Stapleton, and Dierks Bentley
• All-Access MRN Radio Experience at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Weekend for Four (4)
• Handmade leather DAYTONA 500 champion jacket, autographed by 2018 champion (and last year’s dinner honoree, Austin Dillon)

Sponsorship opportunities are available, starting at $1,500. Individual seats $200. For more information about the event, please contact Cyndi Hines at 386-254-1136, or email chines@smabehavioral.org.

Daytona Beach, FL – The Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation (the Foundation) is pleased to announce its 3rd Annual Who is Jay? Mental Health Symposium to be held at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach on Friday, May 18, 2018 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The symposium, titled High Impact: Exploring the Impact of Mental Illness on our Communities and the Positive Impact Individuals Can Have on the Issues, is open to the community, and media is welcome.  Held in May as part of National Mental Health Month activities, the symposium is designed to bring awareness, education, and inspiration. The keynote speaker is Mike Veny, one of America’s leading mental health speakers, and 2017 PM360’s ELITE Award winner for his work with Transforming Stigma and Health Central. Mike’s perspectives have been featured on ABC, NBC, and CBS news.  He is a regular guest on The Fresh outlook TV news show, a writer for Corporate Wellness Magazine and HealthCentral.com.  Mental Illness is An Asset, his compelling TEDx talk, has been used in college classrooms and gotten sensational reviews.  Mike is fiercely committed to wellness, suicide prevention, and addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness. Presentations throughout the day will include the following:

• State of the State: Behavioral Health in Florida – presented by Mark Fontaine, Executive Director of FADAA (Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association)
• PTSD in our Veterans – Presented by Dean Ehly, LCSW with the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration, and introducing K9Line, Inc.
• The Critical Connection: Depression and the Opioid Crisis – Presented by Dr. James L. Fenley, Jr., Director of Addiction Services at SMA Behavioral Health Services, Inc.
• Sources of Strength (Suicide Prevention Model) – presented by Parrish Healthcare
• Mental Health in Diverse Communities – Panel Discussion with Chester Wilson, Ed.D. with SMA Behavioral Health Services, Inc.; Jesus Castro, Psy.D., Psychologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Elena M. Naranjo, LMHC with SunServe
• Because I Said I Would – presented by Amanda Messer, Co-Founder of the social movement and non-profit organization Because I Said I Would

“We are excited to bring such high caliber speakers from around the US and the State of Florida to our community” said Jennifer Secor, Executive Direction of the Foundation.  “The symposium was designed to bring mental health awareness and education to our community, and to touch on current and relevant topics”. The cost to attend is $45 if registered and paid on or before April 29 ($55 after). Students are $25, and NAMI members can attend for free.  The registration fee includes the full day of speakers and presentations, parking at the Ocean Center, lunch and refreshments.  For professionals, they can also earn up to four CEU’s.  To register, please visit https://www.whoisjay.org/2018-mental-health-symposium/ and click on the registration link. The Who is Jay? mental health awareness campaign started in May 2015 with a few billboards and t-shirts directing individuals to a website with mental health resources. To date the site has over 24,000 visits.  In 2016 there was the addition of a half day mental health symposium held in St. Augustine.  2017 brings yet another expansion to include a new and improved website (to be unveiled May 1), Votran advertising, and the full day symposium with national speakers.  “The success and growth of the Who is Jay? mental health awareness campaign has been amazing” said Melissa Murphy, Chairman of the Board for the Foundation “and we are very proud to be a part of it”. Funding for the event is provided in part by the Jay’s Hope Fund, which is managed by the Foundation, registration fees and sponsorships. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact Cyndi Hines, PR Specialist at Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation 386-254-1136 or chines@smabehavioral.org.  For more details about the event, please visit www.SMAFoundation.com or www.whoisjay.org.

The Stewart Marchman-Act (SMA) Foundation is pleased to announce its 2017 BEACH House 5K, an annual fundraiser supporting SMA Behavioral Healthcare’s BEACH House and other programs, broke their record in attendance and funds raised. The BEACH House 5K and Sand & Sun Fest was held on November 11^th. There were 306 runners who completed the course, more than double the participants from last year. A great deal of this increase may be attributed to the team at Florida Health Care Plans (FHCP).  SMA and the BEACH House 5K were chosen as the charity for their annual employee fundraising campaign, where FHCP staff coordinated fundraising activities and promoted the event. “We are grateful to all who came out to support our 5K,” said Jennifer Secor, Executive Director of the SMA Foundation. “This was a record year for us and we hope to experience the same success year after year moving forward.” On top of a record number of attendees, the event raised a net amount of nearly $13,000, which will go to support BEACH House and other SMA programs. More than 20 volunteers helped throughout the event, including volunteers from Easter Seals who staffed the event’s Kid Zone. “The support from throughout our community is critical to pulling off this event successfully,” said Secor. “We are so grateful to all our volunteers and especially the loyal support from the Ocean Deck team, which always pulls out all the stops, and the team from Easter Seals who took time out of their Saturday morning to entertain the children in attendance.”

The Stewart Marchman-Act (SMA) Foundation is pleased to announce that they have launched their annual Bouquets of Hope fundraiser to support mental health awareness activities in our community. “This is our fifth year being able to offer these bouquets,” said Jennifer Secor, Stewart Marchman-Act Foundation Executive Director. “The beautiful arrangement, full of fall colors, can brighten a room and lift someone’s spirits, all while helping us spread the message of hope for individuals and their families who live daily with the challenges of mental illness,” she added. Businesses are encouraged to consider the bouquets as gifts for clients, employees or partners, showing recipients that they support the community and mental health awareness efforts. Businesses who purchase will be recognized on SMA’s website and social media for their generosity and desire to help those we serve remain safe and healthy. The Foundation partners each year with local business Flamingo Florist in Holly Hill. Thanks to work of the staff at Flamingo, and the volunteers who handle the deliveries, nearly half of every bouquet sold goes to the Jay’s Hope Fund.  These funds are then used toward awareness and education during the month of May, Mental Health Awareness Month.  Examples are the website www.whoisjay.org which offers information on local and national resources, and the mental health symposium held at the Ocean Center this past May. Bouquets are $50, including delivery, and can be ordered by visiting www.SMAFoundation.com or www.whoisjay.org, or by calling 386- 254-1136.  Deliveries are available in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia Counties and can be scheduled for either Saturday November 18, or Monday November 20 in. Order deadline is November 14^th.

Ivan Cosimi, CEO of Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Health Services (SMA), is pleased to announce the official ribbon cutting ceremony for its Dr. James E. Huger Adolescent Campus. The event is scheduled for October 4th from 4-5 p.m. at 3875 Tiger Bay Rd. in Daytona Beach. Festivities will include the ribbon cutting ceremony performed by the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce as well as the presentation of the ‘We Noticed Award’ to SMA, brief tours of the newly renovated campus, and refreshments. It is open to the public and members of the media are also invited. The campus is named after the late Dr. James “Jimmy” E. Huger, local legend, activist, and one of SMA’s founding board members, and houses SMA’s RAP (Residential Adolescent Program) and B.E.A.C.H House (Bringing Enrichment and Children Home) programs. The Huger Adolescent Campus recently underwent major renovations over the past year as a result of fundraising efforts by the Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation, as well as private grants and donations. Earlier this year, the SMA Foundation reached its $500,000 fundraising goal for the project and presented a check to the SMA Board of Directors. The campaign began in Summer 2015, and included events such as: the Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation’s Annual Dinner & Auction Celebration, the September 2016 celebrity swim event “Rematch After Rio” with Ryan Lochte and Charlie Lydecker (in partnership with the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA in Ormond Beach), as well as the BEACH House 5K Run for Runaways held in November at the Ocean Deck. SMA offers special thanks to local developer Hall Construction Co., Inc. for its hard work on the project, and credits the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District for funding the creation and enhancement of the campus’ outdoor recreational elements. “Additionally, we thank all our donors, community partners, and individuals who helped us create this state-of-the-art adolescent campus,” said Cosimi. “With these renovations, we have the opportunity to reimagine what it means to deliver an exceptional experience for a child going through the most difficult time of his or her life. Thank you for your support!” Housed here at the Huger Adolescent campus are SMA’s RAP (Residential Adolescent Program) and B.E.A.C.H House (Bringing Enrichment and Children Home) House programs. RAP is a substance abuse treatment program serving substance dependent youth ages 13-17, utilizing individual, group and family interventions. B.E.A.C.H. House is a shelter that provides short-term respite for youth ages 10-17 who are truant, ungovernable or runaway/ homeless. More information on these programs may be found here at http://www.smabehavioral.org/services/residential-services/.

The Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation (the SMA Foundation) is proud to announce that the story behind its Who is Jay? mental health awareness campaign has now been published in a new book. Former Ormond Beach residents, Co-Founders of Jay’s Hope, and mental health advocates, Hank and Susan Ashby, now have their story published in a new book to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. On August 23, 2017 Skookum Hill Publishing released the compilation ebook, The i’Mpossible Project Lemonade Stand. Critics describe the book as a Chicken Soup for the Soul for the new Millenium. Author, actor and international speaker, Josh Rivedal, curated and edited the book. Hank and Susan authored their story, Who is Jay, which is one of the twenty stories written for this book. “Storytelling is the beginning of every great movement,” says author Rivedal. “I started telling my story to help others with mental health issues and suicide. But there is so much gratification in helping others tell their story. Some of the topics inside this book are not ones typically found in an inspirational-style book: alcoholism, assault, the loss of a child and more. Yet each story displays its own beauty and with each the author uncovers a piece of themselves, showing us a moment in their lives where they’ve overcome a tremendous obstacle, transformed or changed for the better—-and by doing so they allow us to peel back and examine a layer of our own soul”. “It is our hope that our Who is Jay story will help all the Jays in this world who are impacted by mental health challenges” says Ashby (visit www.whoisjay.org for more information). Hank and Susan met Josh in May 2017, when he was one of the featured presenters at the SMA Foundation’s 2nd Annual Who is Jay? Mental Health Symposium in Daytona Beach, Florida. The majority of the funding for the symposium was provided by the Jay’s Hope Fund, founded by Hank and Susan, and managed by the SMA Foundation. “We’re so excited to see the story of Jay, and the Ashbys’ advocacy growing and reaching further, beyond our own small community” said Jennifer Secor, Executive Director of the SMA Foundation. “The publication of the book comes at a good time, as the SMA Foundation is gearing up for its annual fall fundraiser to support the Jay’s Hope Fund.”  Each year the SMA Foundation sells “Bouquets of Hope”, beautiful fall colored arrangements created by Flamingo Florist.  The net proceeds go into the fund to support mental health awareness and education events.  Hank and Susan are very involved in the project, including hand delivering many of the arrangements. The I’Mpossible Project: Lemonade Stand is/will be available at Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million and other major retailers: www.iampossibleproject.com/lemonade www.iampossibleproject.com/preorder