About Friends

OUR MISSION

Friends provides financial help and hope for Alexandrians receiving services from the City's Community Services Board (CSB) for mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities.

OUR VISION

Friends seeks to build a supportive community for all Alexandrians and families dealing with mental health conditions. 

OUR WORK

Friends is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 with the knowledge that community makes a significant difference for those living with a mental health condition, developmental disability, or substance use on their path to recovery.

Friends’ primary goal is to provide a financial safety net for Alexandrians receiving mental health services from the City’s Community Services Board (CSB). Friends uses donations to provide help and hope to these individuals and their families for special and emergency needs, such as housing, medicine, dental care, transportation, social and educational advices, and basic life necessities. In addition to supporting individual needs, 

Additionally, Friends supports the city and other partners working to advance mental health throughout Alexandria--those who strengthen the safety net, improve mental health awareness and advocacy, reduce stigma, and enhance training for CSB staff. 

Community support is a critical component of recovery and well being. Please join us to lend a hand, raise a voice, and foster understanding!

FRIENDS-AT-A-GLANCE

• Not-for-profit: 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1984

• Volunteer run: Led and entirely run by a group of resident volunteers

• Mission support: 99% of all proceeds go directly to the mission

• Who we serve: Low-income residents receiving care from CSB for mental illness, developmental disability, and substance use disorders

• What we provide: Financial assistance for basic life needs such as housing, clothes, transportation, and emergency health and dental care

• Additional services: Help with education, preparing for and maintaining employment, and participating more fully in community life

THE BOARD

• Anna Dvorchik, Chair 

• Matt Aliberti, Outreach

• Lindsey Lawson Battaglia, Advocacy

• Andre Bizzier

• Tess Clarke, Outreach and Communications

• Lindsay Clarke, Secretary, Communications

• Jennifer Cohen-Cordero

• Elizabeth A. “Betty” Livingston, Outreach

• Ian Ring, CSB Liaison

• Monica Rusk, Treasurer

• Annette Santiago, Consumer Liaison

• Vera Sarkis, Social Media