ASCEND works to elevate awareness of mental health through special events and activities. Some projects/events are one-time-only and a collaboration among many community partners, such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – North Country, Liberty House, and the Behavioral Health Department of the Glens Falls Hospital. Other activities are scheduled annually to raise funds for existing programs in addition to awareness. Building the best event requires sponsorships from corporate partnerships, local small business, and community partners.
Continuity of support enhances community awareness and connection to mental health activities… and those in the community who support them.
Walter P. Reichert Award (2023) – Adirondack EAP from 75th Diamond Jubilee ASCEND Community Awards.
Our Hope Tree in Glens Falls City Park, during Mental Health Month we write inspiring messages of hope and positivity to raise awareness.
Dorothea Dix Award (2023) – Chris Lyons, CEO of AIM Services Inc. from 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee ASCEND Community Awards.
Upcoming Events
Every May, we hold our Annual Mental Health Month event this attended by ASCEND staff, clients, members, mental health professionals, community partners and people from the communities we serve. It features speakers, award presentations to people and businesses within and outside of the mental health field who have positively influenced mental health.
ASCEND’s Annual Community Awards Fundraiser
Thursday, May 1st
3:00PM – 5:00PM
Heritage Hall, Cool Insuring Arena
Join us on Thursday, May 1st for our Annual Community Awards event at Heritage Hall at the Cool Insuring Arena from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM to celebrate Mental Health Month. Once again, our Annual Community Awards event will be a fundraiser as well with all ticket sales going to help support our programs and services.
This special event will not only recognize outstanding individuals and organizations, but also shine a spotlight on youth mental health and wellness—a crucial conversation that needs our collective support.
We will honor our award recipients for the Dorothea Dix Community Service Award, and for the Walter P. Reichert Award, and Amy Carpenter Scholarship Award.
The 2025 Dorothea Dix Community Service Award winner is Warren Washington CARE Center for their unwavering commitment to supporting children who have experienced trauma. Their compassionate approach during investigative processes and innovative healing strategies have profoundly enhanced the mental well-being of these children and their families. The Dorothea Dix Community Service Award was established in 2001 to recognize an individual or organization not part of the mental health system, but whose efforts have contributed to improving mental health in our community. Ms. Dix lived in the mid-19th century and almost single-handedly influenced reforms that drastically changed the cruel “treatment” of the “insane” during this time.
Our 2025 Walter P. Reichert Award winner is Brenna Lyons, MS. a Behavioral Health Clinician at Glens Falls Hospital‘s Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit. Brenna is consistently recognized by the clients we serve and our team at ASCEND for going above and beyond to ensure positive experiences and outcomes for those in her care. The Walter P. Reichert Award was established in 1986 and named after the first Board President of the “Glens Falls Mental Hygiene Association,” now ASCEND Mental Wellness. This award formally recognizes an individual, group or agency within the local mental health community that has significantly contributed to the promotion, development and/or betterment of mental health within Warren and Washington counties.
Our 2025 Amy Carpenter Scholarship Award Recipient is Haylee Mello, a second-year nursing student at SUNY Adirondack. The Amy Carpenter Scholarship Award, established in 1989 in honor of a residential counselor at ASCEND Mental Wellness, full tuition is awarded annually to a second-year student enrolled in community mental health, criminal justice, or nursing at SUNY Adirondack/Adirondack Community College.
Light Refreshments will be served
Event Underwriters:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Capital Region
We hope you will kick off Mental Health Awareness Month with us to help us continue our mission of fostering mental health awareness, accessibility, and advocacy. Let’s change the narrative about Mental Health and Wellness together!
Get Your Tickets Today!
Tree of Hope Celebration
Friday, May 2nd
11:00AM – 12:00PM
City Park, Glens Falls, NY 12801
Help change the narrative around Mental Health and Wellness. Join us on Friday, May 2nd from 11:00AM to 12:00PM in sharing inspiration messages of hope, healing, and kindness with our community.
Our Hope Tree is located on the Maple Street side of City Park to the left of the bandstand near the sidewalk.
We are looking to include everyone in our community in this event individuals, businesses, community supporters, partners, and providers.
If you are interested in attending this event, but can’t make it we will be handing out on the first week April Mental Health and Wellness bags with markers and ribbons to fill out with your own messages to share on our tree all of May to support Mental Health and Wellness.
If interested in receiving one of these bags please reach out to our Communications Coordinator, Michele Morehouse at mmorehouse@ascendmw.org.
Spring Plant Sale
Friday, May 9th
10:00AM – 2:00PM
230 Maple, Glens Falls, NY 12801
Chalk the Walk (Collaborative Community Event)
Wednesday, May 28th
10:00AM – 1:00PM
City Park, Glens Falls, NY 12801
Come celebrate brain health, mental wellness, and recovery!
Mental Health Needs Community Support
If you have any questions or would like more information on our events please reach out to our communications coordinator, Michele Morehouse via email mmorehouse@ascendmw.org or by phone (518) 747-2284 ext. 229