The Camilla Foundation was recently founded by a Licensed Professional Counselor in Statesboro, in response to the significant amount of people seeking out mental health services without the resources to pay a full (or sometimes even reduced) rate.
Through this experience, she began to explore other ways to help people meet their needs, while also supporting the network of high quality counselors and other mental health providers around Southeast Georgia and other areas where clients are in need.
The heart of the Camilla Foundation is to help remove financial barriers and help people get access to mental health services that can help our community move forward, moving you closer the very best version of you.
Raffle held
The foundation began its fundraising efforts July 15 with a successful marketing campaign and raffle. The raffle helped introduce the foundation to our community, as it continues to raise awareness and funds to provide mental health services to local youth.
Three supporters of the Camilla Foundation won various prizes from the raffle. The first prize was a Louis Vuitton purse sponsored by Dr. Don and Lisa Aaron and Optim Orthopedics. The second prize was a Yeti Cooler that was sponsored by Catherine and Troy Hendrix. The final prize from the raffle was Chick-fil-A for a year, donated by the Boykin family.
“We are grateful to our local community, friends and family that supported our inaugural fundraiser. We believe that the awareness that was created will help us to continue to pursue our efforts to assist the youth of our community,” said Joey Cowart, president of The Camilla Foundation.
Staff hired and services announced
With the funds raised, The Camilla Foundation is pleased to announce three new hires: a social-emotional group leader, Kalie Chambless, a part-time counselor, Perris Oyagha, and an intern, Emma Dasher.
Chambless graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology. She will be leading social and emotional education groups at The Camilla Foundation.
Oyagha is a recent graduate of Georgia Southern University’s Counselor Education Program. She is currently working as a counselor for Brave Tomorrow Counseling and Consulting.
Dasher is currently working on her Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Georgia Southern University.
Both Oyagha and Dasher will be providing individual and group mental health counseling services.
All three are excited to be a part of the foundation and to support underserved youth in our community.
“We are excited to announce that beginning Sept. 12, The Camilla Foundation will begin offering mental health services to our local youth,” Chambless announced.
These services will be funded by the money raised through the raffle as well as private donations. As additional funds are raised, the foundation will continue to add services and sessions.
These services will include, but are not limited to: sessions with individuals that have been brought to The Camilla Foundation as immediate needs, group sessions with at-risk youth, as well as group sessions offering proactive coping skills.
Camilla Foundation Board appointed
The Executive Committee of The Camilla Foundation, which includes Joey Cowart, Scott Marchbanks, April Miller, Catherine Hendrix, Jessie Rushing and Beth Boykin, is pleased to announce our full board.
We are grateful for the service and support of the following individuals: Lisa Aaron, Dorsey Baldwin, Jennifer Bohlke, Scott Bohlke, Donald Chavers, Kristie Crooms, Scott Hagan, Shannon Hodges, Joy Lanier, Lisa Lee, Laura Taulbee Marsh, Renee Perry, Lauren Ross, Harley Strickland Smith, and Catherine Tootle.
The foundation's namesake
The Camilla Foundation credits its name to Diane Camilla Teel Miller, 1948-2009. Diane was fiercely devoted to her family, her work, and while she lived many places her heart always called the deserts of Arizona home. Her favorite animal was the Gambel's Quail, native to Arizona and the Southwest, because of their tendencies to stay in long-term family and community groups, often traveling and foraging together.
Diane Miller, PhD, was a Family and Consumer Sciences Instructor for much of her life. Her life's work centered around creating healthy growth spaces for individuals and families, whether that involved nutrition education, financial planning, parenting, or domestic/household skills. Her desire was to see individuals and clients work toward their best version of themselves. She was active in community groups, local agencies, universities, and grant programs to help provide assistance and growth spaces for individuals and families in the most effective ways.
The Camilla Foundation carries forward the commitment to work with other professionals, our communities, and funding opportunities to provide the most opportunities for the most people to make the most growth possible.
How you can help the Camilla Foundation
Fundraising continues in an effort to add services for our local youth. Donations may be made by visiting thecamillafoundation.org or via mail to The Camilla Foundation, P.O. Box 2143, Statesboro, Georgia 30459.
