The Gazette also did a story about the Forbes article.

Leading Business Magazine Forbes Honors Local Advocates in International Fundraiser; Anniversary Celebration Planned

Media Contact:
Oryx Cohen - 413.561.3269
PJ Moynihan - 413.265.9833
Chaya Grossman - 917.974.1876

NORTHAMPTON, MA:  Forbes, a leading international business magazine, has chosen the Northampton, MA based Freedom Center, an alternative mental health organization run by and for people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, to be featured as their charity of the month in September.

www.forbes.com/2008/08/28/mentalhealth-schizophrenia-pf-philo-in_rm_0829philanthropy_inl.html

snipurl.com/forbesfreedomcenter

Please visit our Donations page to join in supporting Freedom Center's innovative programs!

Beginning August 29th, Forbes will highlight the Freedom Center's work through its website www.forbes.com  Included in Forbes' 'Philanthropic Pitch" campaign to support Freedom Center will be a five-minute video along with a written story about one of Freedom Center's Co-Founders, Will Hall. www.freedom-center.org for a direct link to the philanthropic pitch on www.forbes.com.

Freedom Center is a volunteer, peer-run group that supports informed choice and self-determination regarding medication, other psychiatric treatments, and holistic alternatives.  Freedom Center incorporates a Harm Reduction philosophy and supports people's choices in their own mental health recovery and in their own lives. Freedom Center offers yoga, acupuncture, writing groups, support groups, educational events and advocates for rights protection. Freedom Center is volunteer-run and offers all its services for free.

Forbes.com is the single largest economic portal on the Internet, with an estimated 15 million visitors per month.  Initiated by Forbes Senior Editor, Richard Morais, the Philanthropic Pitch is a unique feature that, each month, promotes a charity in an effort to encourage philanthropic giving.  The Freedom Center Philanthropic Pitch will be featured for the month of September, after which it will be archived at Forbes.com.

"This is a great honor for us, and shows the international recognition of our innovative, cost-effective peer services," said Freedom Center organizer Chaya Grossberg. Grossberg joined the Freedom Center after stays in the hospital with a schizophrenia diagnosis where she was taking multiple medications. Today she is off medications and teaches the groups popular weekly free yoga classes.

"Forbes contacted me a few years ago for an article on alternatives to anti-depressant medications,." said Freedom Center co-founder Will Hall. He said the Forbes editor was so moved by the story of the Freedom Center that the group was chosen for the special fundraising opportunity on the internet. Read the original Forbes story here.

Local filmmakers Digital Eyes Productions produced the 3- minute Freedom Center video that will appear on the Forbes site. "I feel a personal connection with this issue," said filmmaker PJ Moynihan. "It was a labor of love, and we hope to raise resources for a longer feature to share the story out about the important work going in in Western MA."

To celebrate the honor of being recognized by Forbes, and its seven-year anniversary, Freedom Center will host a special event to screen the video at its "Let's Celebrate Freedom Center" party on September 20th at 6 pm, at the World War II Club, 50 Conz St., Northampton, MA.  The celebration will also include a hula-hooping performance, live music, and a dance party hosted by a DJ until midnight.  Screening of the short film will begin at 7pm.  There will be a cash bar, and Freedom Center encourages people to bring a dish to share.  Suggested donations are $10 at the door, however nobody will be turned away for a lack of funds.

Media Contact:
Oryx Cohen - 413.561.3269
PJ Moynihan - 413.265.9833
Chaya Grossman - 917.974.1876