2022 in Reflection: A Letter From Our CEO
Dear friends,
Phew, what a year 2022 has been!
Project HEAL has made tremendous strides in creating equitable access to eating disorder healing for those the system is failing. We’re still calculating this year’s final numbers, but as of November 11, Project HEAL:
Received 48% more applications than 2021
Said “YES” to 269% more people than 2021
Provided 829 direct services to 591 people, helping each of them access free eating disorder diagnosis and treatment
Delivered $2,572,914 in cash value to those individuals, which means that for each dollar donated to Project HEAL, we maximized its real-life impact by nearly 300%
While these numbers on their own might seem “impressive,” we must never lose sight of the fact that each of those numbers is a person - someone’s child, someone’s parent, someone’s colleague, someone’s best friend. Each of those numbers represents a human being with a story filled with heartache and dreams every bit as complicated and worthy of dignity and care as you or me. Each of those numbers is someone who is no longer alone, whose hope for a free and vibrant future has been restored.
We couldn’t have done any of this without you. Thank you for helping us change these lives.
This July, my mother passed away after living with Anorexia Nervosa for nearly 50 years. So I unfortunately know firsthand the toll that eating disorders take, and how devastating they can be – especially when left untreated. Her death was devastating to me for myriad reasons, but it also served as a sobering, humbling reminder of why I do this work. And even as I wade through this grief, I’m more determined than ever.
No one should be forced to live with an untreated eating disorder, let alone die with an untreated eating disorder, simply because our healthcare system forgot them or didn’t take them seriously. Every single person, regardless of identity or financial means, who wants to heal deserves the opportunity to do so.
And Project HEAL’s vision of accessible and equitable care is not a pie-in-the-sky dream or an impossible feat.
Full, true healing from disordered eating is possible – with access to resources and support.
And you can help us ensure that it’s possible for everyone.
As we wrap up 2022 and head into even more expansion and changemaking in 2023, please consider supporting Project HEAL’s efforts to make this vision a reality.
There are millions of people who need us, and we can solve this problem – but we have to do it together.
Thank you for your support and consideration.
From the bottom of my heart,
Rebecca Eyre, MA, LMHC
Chief Executive Officer