The FallFest For Wellness, the largest fundraiser for the PUSD Wellness Center, will take place on Saturday, September 21, according to event co-chairs Susan Crown and Narda Skov. This year’s FallFest will take place on the Havens campus and feature large mat-based strength classes led by Susan Willrich of the Daley Method and Kim Lally of Nest Yoga.
The PUSD Wellness Center provides confidential, free on-campus counseling available to all Piedmont High School, Millennium High School and Piedmont Middle School students. The Wellness Center helps students manage common emotional and social challenges of middle and high school including stress, depression, grief, family or friendship conflicts, and substance use concerns. Approximately one third of high school and one quarter of middle school students utilize services at the Wellness Center each year.
Wellness Center funding comes from a combination of grants, local parent and community donations, and Piedmont Unified School District general fund contributions. Due to funding challenges for the 2019-2020 school year, the difficult decision was made to reduce the budget supporting the Wellness Center. Intern stipends were eliminated entirely, and reductions were made to intern training, nursing supplies, office supplies, and healthy snacks for students. While all of these are important, intern stipends are of
particular concern. According to Wellness Center Clinical Supervisor Alisa Crovetti, “Stipends are necessary for the center to continue to attract staff from psychology, social work, and therapist graduate programs and increase clinician retention, and are necessary for future accreditation by the American Psychological Association.”
The FallFest will generate limited funding through ticket sales, the majority coming from sponsorships. For the first time, the FallFest Committee is seeking $500 Family Sponsorships from PUSD families and the greater Piedmont Community. Funds raised through Family Sponsorships will directly support students’ ability to receive counseling services.
To support the Wellness Center:
● Sponsor, donate to, or register for the FallFest Challenge at fallfestforwellness.org. Business sponsorships must be received by August 12 for print recognition.
● Encourage local businesses to sponsor the FallFest.
● Donate snacks, tea or other supplies for students at the Wellness Center. Nonperishable donations can be dropped off at the PEF office in Veterans Hall throughout the summer, call 653-1816 for hours.
● Join the Wellness Center Support Committee by emailing saradawnvalkonen@gmail.com.