Micro Grants From Psych Central Community Connection Provide Assistance to Those in Need
Psych Central Community Connection is a new non-profit that enables members to receive up to $500 in micro grants to assist in overcoming temporary financial hardships. More information is available at http://www. PsychCentral. org.
Newburyport, MA (PRWEB) January 12, 2010
Today Dr. John Grohol, Psy. D., announced that Psych Central Community Connection, Inc. (http://www. PsychCentral. org (http://www. PsychCentral. org)) has been officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity by the Internal Revenue Service. Psych Central Community Connection provides assistance for members in need with unexpected emergencies in life and is the first of its kind to be established by a mental health site. To qualify, individuals submit grant applications to explain the emergency need. A review committee then reviews the applications and disbursements are made of up to $500 each once the basic guidelines are met.
“This can mean the difference between warmth in the winter or whether or not there’s food on the table,” said Dr. John Grohol, Psy. D., founder and CEO of Psych Central, and President of the new nonprofit. “We are not only here to help people out financially, but also emotionally, to help them make it through the tough times."
Psych Central’s Community Connection grew out of the Psych Central online community’s successful efforts with past member-based fund drives. To date, more than $7,000 has already been distributed to individual members in need. Those funds have helped cover heating and electricity bills, food assistance and other critical items by which members have been confronted.
“My husband lost his job in July this year. We had no savings to fall back on,” said Psych Central member ‘bebop.’ “I finally decided I had to swallow my pride and gain my courage to ask [Psych Central Community Connection] for help. It got me though two months with food and other things I had to get that my disability would not afford me. I am eternally grateful and very humbled by the outpouring of love,” she said.
"These micro grants are meant as lifelines to individuals in our community," noted Dr. Grohol. "I was surprised to learn how difficult it can be to obtain local assistance for an immediate need. While other mental health nonprofits are focused on the big picture, we're focused on the local picture – people who can be helped by a micro grant."
Psych Central Community Connection, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity setup for the benefit of members of the Psych Central community. It relies on the generosity of donations from fellow members as well as from others who want to help make a difference for individuals who have mental health concerns.
People are encouraged to join the Psych Central community at http://forums. psychcentral. com (http://forums. psychcentral. com) and donate to the program (information is available at http://www. psychcentral. org (http://www. psychcentral. org)). Psych Central typically matches funds contributed by others on a 1:1 basis in order to encourage development of the assistance program.
Psych Central is the leading destination for online mental health and psychology information, community, and support. Founded in 1995, Psych Central was selected by TIME Magazine as one of the 50 Best Web sites with its original articles, news content, community, research briefs, ratings and reviews of medications and treatments, and Dr. John Grohol’s popular “World of Psychology” blog. Today, the site is visited by more than 1 million people worldwide monthly.
About Psych Central
Psych Central, located at http://www. PsychCentral. com (http://www. PsychCentral. com), is the Internet’s leading independent mental health network featuring original peer-reviewed editorial content, news, research briefs, clinical trials, ratings and reviews of medications and treatments, the popular World of Psychology blog and a dozen additional blogs, and more than 150 support groups. Each month more than 1 million people worldwide visit Psych Central to learn about a mental health condition, join a support group, contribute to a blog, or take a free scientific quiz. Founded in 1995, Psych Central is published by John M. Grohol, Psy. D., a pioneer and expert in online mental health. Dr. Grohol's leadership has helped to break down the barriers of stigma often associated with mental health concerns by bringing trusted resources to the Internet. Psych Central was named as a 50 Best Website in 2008 by TIME magazine. Sanity Score, a mental health and wellness test at http://www. SanityScore. com (http://www. SanityScore. com) developed by Psych Central, provides a numerical rating and graphical result of the state of an individual's mental health. The test has been taken by more than 100,000 people and continually generates feedback lauding its accuracy. Recently Dr. Grohol launched the 501(c)(3) public charity Psych Central Community Connection in 2009 to help its members with micro grants in times of need.
Neither Psych Central nor Sanity Score are a substitution for professional diagnosis or treatment. Psych Central and Sanity Score are registered trademarks or common law marks of Liviant LLC. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners.
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