2024 Annual Giving Letter: Still Here

Bob Sleppy, CEO

November 2024

The mission of Nuçi's Space is essential – for the thousands of people we've helped financially or impacted by our programs and services. It has saved lives, including mine. I have suffered from recurring bouts of severe anxiety and depression most of my adult life. With the help of regular therapy, medication, and the support of friends and family, I have been able to manage the ebb and flow that accompanies it.

In a recent interview between journalist Anderson Cooper and comedian Stephen Colbert, they discussed the topic of grief and grieving. To paraphrase their conversation for brevity, Cooper asked, "You have said that you have learned to, in your words, love the thing that I most wish had not happened. Do you really believe that?" Colbert replied, "Yes. It's a gift to exist. And with existence comes suffering. There's no escaping that. But if you are grateful for your life. Then you have to be grateful for all of it." At first, I was annoyed by the simplicity of Colbert's answer, but the more I reflected on his words, the more I appreciated them. Although I'd prefer not to experience the pain of mental illness, there is a part of my brain that has learned to appreciate it. The experiences that caused me distress also gave me the tools to identify and empathize with the people we serve. I am better at my job because of it.

My circumstances are not unique. We all carry stress and burdens that others don't often see. Sharing these personal aspects of my life is not intended to elicit a response. I'm sharing this for one simple reason – to remind myself that I'm still here. I may struggle at times, but I'm not alone. And most importantly, I want to share that Nuçi's Space has played an integral role in my perseverance.

This year has been challenging for us as an organization as well. For reasons I have been unable to put my finger on, donations have unexpectedly decreased this year while the demand and cost of services have increased. Our staff and Board members have done an incredible job of helping cut costs while initiating new campaigns and sources of revenue to stabilize things. However, we continue to dig ourselves out of a financial hole and are working to rebuild our monetary reserves.

Nuçi's Space has experienced explosive growth over the past five years, with our budget growing from $569,508.20 in 2019 to $1,279,228.76 in 2024. The challenges that have accompanied our growth and maturity as an organization have taken their toll financially and emotionally, but we are undeterred in our resolve. Despite the growing pains, the good news is the number of programs we offer and the impact on our community has never been greater. We are working diligently to learn how to manage this growth without decreasing the accessibility of our services, the quality of our care, or the well-being of our staff and providers. Your support will be vital to helping us to achieve this goal.

The purpose of this letter is to ask for your continued support and to remind you that we are still here. We persevere, and because of your support, we are not alone.

When I started at Nuçi's Space nearly 25 years ago, I would often get overwhelmed by the uphill battle we were fighting to alleviate the suffering of those with brain illness and the stigma of suicide. Nuçi's mom, Linda, reminded me to focus on the things I could control. When the world seems to spin off its axis, I remember to focus on our core values:

Be kind to others.
Build community through authentic connections.
Cultivate hope.
Continue to push forward regardless of the obstacles before us.

For every person we provide access to mental healthcare, train in suicide prevention (QPR), each student we mentor, and every person we encounter, we are making a difference in our little corner of the world with the hope that the good you help us provide will grow into other communities.

My ask of you this year is simple and direct. In honor of our upcoming 25th Anniversary, I have a personal goal of encouraging at least 250 new donors to contribute $25 a month in 2025. Together, I know our impact can be even greater. In addition to your annual donation, please help us by sharing this campaign with your friends and loved ones. Growing our network of supporters will allow us to help more people and realize our vision of ending the epidemic of suicide for future generations.

Sincerely,

Bob

25th Anniversary Giving Campaign

By Nuçi Phillips Memorial Foundation

25th Anniversary Giving Campaign

Team Members