Veterans Ball Bash Fall Fundraiser

Supporting Veterans and their Families Mental Health

Caregivers on the Homefront is holding its 2020 Fall fundraiser at Top Golf, 10611 Nall Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66207 on October 18, 2020 from 2:00 - 5:00pm. Come out and smack some balls to promote mental health awareness in veterans and their families. Also hear Toya and Jamal Harris’ story:

Toya - Just when Toya Harris feels like her mental health and fear have overtaken her life forever, she digs deep inside herself and finds her key to healing...her FAITH. Her book, "Emergent Wings" offers a glimpse into the life of an African American, female Veteran who, for years, suffers from mental illness and finds out exactly what a mental breakdown feels like. Harris deals with depression, anxiety, and severe panic attacks, but it isn't until she gets overwhelmed with stress that she goes through a life-changing experience. Join Harris as she journeys down the path of prayer and purpose and her steps to healing and recovery.

Jamal - Jamal earned his B.A. in Marketing but his true passions are education and basketball. Jamal has worked in education for over 15 years and he loves being able to make a difference in the lives of the students that he encounters. He is now the Dean of Culture and Climate at a charter high school and he enjoys the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of his students. Jamal has played basketball since he was 8 years old. He has several championship trophies and he was selected as a walk on player for the basketball team at Florida A&M (his mother’s alma mater) after high school. Jamal now owns a basketball training company where he inspires and coaches athletes of all ages to be the best players they can be. Jamal’s father was a United States Army Veteran. Jamal did not serve in the military himself, but he has learned a lot about what it takes to be the support for those who have and he knows the importance of the role he plays as a supportive family member of a Veteran. He knows that every day will not be perfect, but through his Faith in God and love for his wife, everything will be just fine.

A single ticket includes, golf, dinner buffet and two drink tickets. You don’t have to be a pro golfer to enjoy Top Golf but if you would rather watch, you can purchase a food only ticket. Come and play for your chance to win $10,000 for Caregivers on the Homefront with a hole in one!

Caregivers on the Homefront’s mission is to provide for the family caregivers of our nation’s wounded veterans of all eras of service with hopefulness, a sense of togetherness and a firm foundation of resiliency. We often see how the wounds of war affects the veteran through post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality but can you imagine what the families must be going through as well behind the scenes?

According to the Rand study, "Military caregivers consistently experience worse health outcomes, greater strains in family relationships, and more workplace problems than non-caregivers, and post 9/11 military caregivers fare worse in these areas." The study goes on to say "We found that key aspects of caregiving contribute to depression, including time spent giving care and helping the care recipient cope with behavioral problems. Perhaps even greater concern, between 12% (of pre-9/11 military caregivers) and 33% (of post-9/11 military caregivers) lack health care coverage, suggesting that they face added barriers to getting help in mitigating the potentially negative effects of caregiving."

We must do a better job of supporting the entire veteran family unit. The funds from this fundraiser will go towards no cost mental health counseling for veteran and military families/caregivers, their children, and veteran and military couples provided by licensed therapists who are veteran family caregivers themselves.