Walt's Waltz was founded to broaden Walt Crooks’ mission to reduce suffering in our world. His teachings were subtle but powerful as he modeled compassion, humility, courage, confidence in reason, empathy, and fair-mindedness. Our hands are outstretched as a symbol of hope and fellowship. Will you join our dance?
Who We Are - Walt’s Waltz is an Upstate South Carolina based non-profit organization with regional, national, and international reach. Walt’s Waltz ends the stigma that surrounds those with mental health struggles through professionally led educational programs, integration of the performing and visual arts, and creation of Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments, but we don’t stop there. With a goal to further reduce suffering and suicides, Walt’s Waltz advocates for equitable funding including cutting-edge research in precision medicine toward curative therapies as we see with physical conditions.
Mission - Walt’s Waltz is a compass and a megaphone for mental health support, education, and change.
Vision - Physical health and mental health viewed through the same lens of compassion and fair mindedness which contributes to the empowerment and care of all of humanity.
The “Waltz” Our 3-Step Action Plan
Education - We educate the community about mental health, so we can increase mental health literacy. Through education, we are able to promote awareness and create conversations surrounding mental health.
Equity - Through our education and awareness programs, we begin to build a community who views mental and physical health through the same lens. This creates demand to revolutionize how we approach mental health which includes the need for funding in the areas of genetics and epigenetics as seen in other illnesses and diseases.
Stigma-Free - Through education and the development of equity, we empower the community to have open discussions about mental health, by creating access to safe spaces that promote well-being. Find out more about what we stand for and ways we are different→
Our Beginnings . . .
Walt, a gentle, loving soul whose life’s mission was to reduce suffering, died from treatment resistant anxiety and depression on Thursday, August 22, 2019, after 20-years of struggle. The questions, the guilt, the sorrow, the what ifs… it all rained down on us as we struggled coming to terms with this new reality. It seemed impossible to draw breath. But, on that next Saturday, my son, Will, had a vision, a vision to keep Walt’s life mission alive, to create an organization to reduce suffering so that humanity could move toward an increased understanding of mental health conditions. This was the Genesis of Walt’s Waltz. This creation stemmed from the need to address education, equity, and stigma. The name of our organization came from Walt’s love of music especially in ¾ time. Within weeks, we had Clemson University, SC Small Business Alliance, and the University of South Carolina Law Clinic eagerly on board to help us. Will and I are amazed at the outreach of love and support we continue to receive. Daily, people contact us with stories of loss and struggle, many expressing to us how they had once lived life in the shadows and just how thankful they are for shining a light on mental health conditions in the way we have chosen to position the nonprofit. Our officers and board members each have a unique understanding and closeness to this cause and an eagerness to spread the message of HOPE that Walt’s Waltz represents.
Walt's Waltz was founded to broaden Walt Crooks’ mission to reduce suffering in our world. His teachings were subtle but powerful as he modeled compassion, humility, courage, confidence in reason, empathy, and fair-mindedness. Our hands are outstretched as a symbol of hope and fellowship. Will you join our dance?
Contact us to find out more about becoming a Walt's Waltz Stigma-Free Environment
Walt’s Waltz is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible. EIN 84-3226395
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