Dear Friends:

The NAPT Foundation continues to seed and support the growth of poetry therapy around the globe, thanks to the support of many of you who believe in our mission and our work. Highlights of the past year include:

In the last four years we have funded more than 30 Poetry Alive grants supporting projects from Spokane to Cuernavaca, Mexico, to Washington DC, from Queens to Tallahassee, and many points in between. Projects include workshops and publications for bereavement support groups, hospice, seniors, veterans, the homeless, women, teens, the medical profession, abuse shelters, and expressive arts practitioners.

Thanks to the Seeds of Joy fund and other generous donations to our international fund, we are able to honor the work being done in the international community and partially support the international travel of poetry therapists and facilitators from around the world to the annual NAPT conference.

Since 1997 private gifts and contributions to the Judith K. Mahrer Scholarship Fund have allowed us to make full and partial scholarships available to well-deserving poetry therapists, applied poetry facilitators, and trainees in the U.S. to attend the annual NAPT conference.

Last year we awarded the first ever "Pursue the Dream: The Chris Mazza Award for Poetry Therapy." The award was established to promote projects that benefit, uplift and support the development of adolescents and young adults and is given in recognition for continuing work in applied poetry facilitation and/or poetry therapy with young people. The award honors the memory of Christopher J. Mazza (May 13, 1984-Nov 1, 2005), a kind and loving young man with an unconquerable spirit.

Thanks to the generous patronage of foundations, private gifts from donors, and to the funds raised at the NAPT annual conference, the Foundation has continued to be able to fund national and international conference scholarships, conference marketing, Poetry Alive projects, awards, and other special gifts.  

Our current board members for 2007-08 are Cathleen Callahan, Lisa Conger, Normandi Ellis, Dottie Joslyn, Marisis Nelson, Gayle Nosal and Joy Sawyer.  

We thank you for your interest and support. And we're always appreciative of contributions. Please visit our contribution page to charge your debit or credit card (and many of you already know how well it works to contribute a small amount each month). You may designate your gift for any of our funds for special or ongoing projects, and you can also give your contribution in memory or honor of a loved one.

May the joy you bestow on others return to you.


Normandi Ellis
NAPT Foundation President

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Visit also:
Main Foundation Page
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