Hope Starts Here

Since 1985, when our founder Jean Walters first welcomed families into her Ithaca home, NAMI Finger Lakes has been a place where hope begins. What started as a small gathering for support and education has grown into a community lifeline for families in Ithaca, Cortland, and across the Finger Lakes.

We are a volunteer-driven nonprofit, powered by people who understand mental illness firsthand. Every one of our program leaders is trained and certified by NAMI, and many have loved ones living with mental health conditions. That lived experience makes our support personal, compassionate, and deeply connected to the realities families face.

Today, NAMI Finger Lakes provides education, advocacy, and support to hundreds of families each year. We walk alongside people in recovery, connect them to local resources, and remind them they are not alone.

But we cannot do this without you.

Your gift fuels hope. It ensures that families find understanding, that volunteers can continue to share their knowledge, and that our community has access to life-changing programs. Together, we can expand support, deepen impact, and bring light to those navigating the challenges of mental illness.

Hope starts here — and it starts with you. 👉 Donate Today

Hope Starts Here: NAMI Fingerlakes Year-End Giving Drive

By NAMI Finger Lakes

Hope Starts Here: NAMI Fingerlakes Year-End Giving Drive

Closing 2025 with Hope, Healing, and Community