Special Funds

If you wish, you may designate your gift to a special fund at DBSA: 

CLF Scholarship Fund 

Purpose of the CLF Scholarship Fund: To afford DBSA Chapter Leaders the opportunity to attend a DBSA Conference and Chapter Leadership Forum (CLF) where they will receive training to become better chapter leaders and, in turn, achieve positive change in their communities through advocacy, community outreach, education and support.

The 2009 Chapter Leadership Forum will take place the day before the 2009 National Conference, 'Peer Connections', in Indianapolis, IN on September 10, 2009.

Over 70,000 people are served by DBSA chapters every year.  For some of these people, the support they find through DBSA chapters is the difference between being hospitalized or feeling well. Support is a vital part of the recovery process and helps people adhere to their treatment plans. Having a trained Chapter Leader leads to better services and support for the local community.

Sponsor a Chapter Leader today by making a contribution to our CLF Scholarship Fund.

Ask if your employer is part of the Communities Health Charities (CHC) for an easy way to give at work.  Or, if you are a military or a federal employee, please give to DBSA through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). DBSA's CFC code is 0581.

Support Group Crisis Fund

Purpose of the Support Group Crisis Fund: To build new support groups and train our chapter leaders about crisis and trauma response.

DBSA is the established, national leader in consumer-run mental health support groups.  And we need your financial assistance to train our chapter leaders in providing support in times of crisis. 

America has recently gone through many challenging times; many people have been left without a home, a livelihood and in some cases even their families.  This not only takes a toll on those living with mood disorders, but on all of us.  When a country suffers a national tragedy, people are affected not only physically but emotionally.  Our chapters across the country are assisting and will continue to assist those in need.

As we embrace the future and what that may hold for so many DBSA’s support groups are prepared to help.  We have been offering a support network for the past 20 years and will continue to do so.  But we need your help to build new support groups and to train our chapter leaders about crisis and trauma response.  Please help us in providing assistance to those in need.  Rebuilding homes and finding new jobs is very difficult, but rebuilding one’s life emotionally takes courage and perseverance beyond words. 

Donate Now to DBSA’s Support Group Crisis Fund! 
Your contribution will make a real difference in people’s mental health. 

Ask if your employer is part of the Communities Health Charities (CHC) for an easy way to give at work.  Or, if you are a military or a federal employee, please give to DBSA through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). DBSA's CFC code is 0581.

Rebecca’s Dream

Purpose of “Rebecca’s Dream” and the Rebecca Lynn Cutler Legacy of Life Fund: To promote awareness and compassionate understanding of depression and bipolar disorder as real diseases.

Rebecca Lynn Cutler---beautiful, gifted, talented, funny, best friend to so many, wonderful daughter who loved her family, enjoyed a good time and lived with depression and bipolar disorder. Rebecca talked about her depression to bring light and hope into the lives of those she cared about.  It is only now, since Rebecca made her statement that she could no longer live with her disease, that her family recognizes how important it is to talk and talk and talk again about the disease process and what it does to individuals, to families, to friends and to co-workers.

Because of this, The Rebecca Lynn Cutler Legacy of Life Foundation, under the auspices of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, was established.  The proceeds from this fund will help make “Rebecca’s Dream” come true - the awareness and compassionate understanding in the general public of depression and bipolar disorder as real diseases. 

Donate Now to “Rebecca’s Dream."  Your contribution will make a real difference in people’s mental health. 

Ask if your employer is part of the Communities Health Charities (CHC) for an easy way to give at work.  Or, if you are a military or a federal employee, please give to DBSA through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). DBSA's CFC code is 0581.

Marc “Davka” de Groot Fund

Purpose of the fund: To raise awareness of mood disorders in the workplace and to educate the existence of mood disorders throughout educational institutions around the country.

Marc, “Davka”, was a multifaceted person who lost his life to bipolar disorder on August 8, 2004.  While still in elementary school, he developed an interest in computers, chemistry, physics, rocketry, photography and amateur radio. At age 10, borrowing his parents' 8mm camera, he directed his friends in his first movie, supplementing the action with his own hand drawn cartoons. He developed an interest in music, tried his hand at piano lessons, but switched to the guitar when he became a Beatles fan.

Marc worked with several different computer company, starting with IBM.  He worked on printer development, video game development, and operating systems for graphic work stations.  He became interested in artificial intelligence and virtual realty.  In a joint study with a neuroscientist, he applied that technology to enable paraplegic children to maneuver their wheelchairs through a virtual world using facial muscle movements.  He founded his own corporation, Immersive Systems, Inc., where among other things, he invented a virtual reality system for which he was issued a patent. 

Marc moved to Boulder, Colorado and began exploring an interest from his childhood, fractal geometry. He had done enough self-study of mathematics to be able to appreciate the beauty of mathematics and the many possibilities of fractal geometry. 

Shortly after his move to Boulder, Marc took the name of Davka which in Hebrew means “in spite of everything.” Troubled by mood swings, Davka moved to Taos, New Mexico. He was attracted to the spirituality of the area and believed that it would help him conquer the effects of his bipolar disorder.  His art and accomplishments will live on to help others living with depression and bipolar disorder reach recovery and wellness. 

Donate Now to the Marc “Davka” de Groot Fund.  Your contribution will make a real difference in people’s mental health. 

Ask if your employer is part of the Communities Health Charities (CHC) for an easy way to give at work. Or, if you are a military or a federal employee, please give to DBSA through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). DBSA's CFC code is 0581.

The Davka Collection (view more or order)

Dave's Spark | Let the Music Play Fund

Purpose of the fund: Established in 2006 by the friends and family of Dave Kaplan in conjunction with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) with a mission to provide support to families who are confronted with bipolar disorder.  A percentage of the proceeds this year will also help establish a scholarship fund for financially disadvantaged kids with great potential, to Dave’s high school alma mater.

Let the Music Play.