James's Cowtown Clubhouse Fundraiser

I joined the Cowtown Clubhouse board without much of a background in the Clubhouse Model. Before I got involved, I really didn’t know much about it.

What got my attention was the problem Cowtown is trying to solve.

There is a lot more conversation around mental health today, which is a good thing, but adults living with serious mental illness can still become incredibly isolated. Work, friendships, routine, and just having a place where you feel like you belong can all become harder to maintain.

Cowtown is built around a pretty simple idea: people recover through relationships, purpose, and belonging.

At the Clubhouse, members aren’t treated like patients or defined by a diagnosis. Members and staff work side by side to help run the Clubhouse, prepare and share meals, build friendships, pursue employment and education, and contribute to a community where they are genuinely needed.

The more I learned about the model, the more it made sense to me. Everybody needs to feel useful. Everybody needs people who notice when they show up and when they don’t. Everybody needs some sense that they are part of something.

The most gratifying part of serving on the board has been getting to watch Cowtown grow. This year, we moved into a new location, which was a huge step for the organization. It gives our members a better place to gather, work, eat together, and build community, while also giving Cowtown room to serve more people over time.

It also feels like a really exciting moment for the organization. We have great leadership under Bernie Scheffler, a new space, and a lot of momentum. I feel fortunate to have gotten involved at this stage and to have a front-row seat as Cowtown grows.

That’s why I’m supporting Cowtown Clubhouse this North Texas Giving Day.

Your gift helps provide the everyday things that make this community possible: communal meals, employment and education support, wellness opportunities, strong staff relationships, and most importantly, a place where adults living with serious mental illness feel welcomed, useful, and connected.

I’m proud to be involved and would be very grateful for your support.