Your donation is tax deductible. NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley is a 501c3 nonprofit. IRS ID# 42-1188963.
A standout basketball star at Bettendorf High School, DJ Carton went on to play for The Ohio State University. He was living his dream, but he wasn’t happy, says his mom, Jennifer Carton.
DJ felt a lot of pressure, and the expectations from being a top basketball athlete proved to be too much for him to handle. His depression worsened, and soon he couldn’t eat or keep food down. He tried talking to coaches and a therapist at the university, all to no avail. So DJ, with his family’s support, made the difficult decision to take a break from the university and basketball to focus on his mental health.
“DJ decided to go public with his reasons for taking a leave from basketball,” says Jennifer. “I truly believe this alone saved my son’s life. He heard from thousands of people who gave their support and expressed their gratitude for helping them through difficult times.”
Following his break, DJ completed his sophomore year and basketball season at Marquette University before making the choice to leave college to play professional basketball. Today he plays for the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. “I had to learn to be honest with myself and the people around me,” he says. “But I did not get through it alone, that was impossible. Sharing my feelings with the ones I loved, they were able to help me navigate through very hard times.”
Not everyone has the support DJ has had on his journey, and for them, NAMI’s programs are a lifeline. Won’t you donate $36 to NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley? This will pay for one person living with a mental health condition to share their recovery story, just like DJ did, and bring NAMI’s free, nationally developed education and support programs to more people in our community living with a mental health condition, and their families and friends.
This year, your year-end gifts to NAMI by Jan. 31, 2025, will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000 by two generous donors – an anonymous donor from Davenport and Malik and K Khaliq of Milan. Your gifts will have twice the positive impact in our community!
Please Invest in our Education & Support
Please help us advance our vision of a better tomorrow by making a gift to NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley. When you make a financial contribution, you:
- Build better lives for persons living with a mental health condition
- Change the way our community understands mental health
- Ensure no individual or family walks alone
Mail check to NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley, 852 Middle Rd., Suite 206, Bettendorf, IA 52722.
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