Actions Speak Louder than Words: Major volunteer activities, increased quality of life for those with mental health challenges, and their families:
• President of founding Board of Derek’s Renaissance House, Inc. that
created Club Horizon in Knightdale, NC, a state-licensed psychosocial
rehabilitation facility for people with severe mental illness. It was Ann’s
burning passion and devotion to do something to help people with
disabilities that resulted in successfully establishing the first Club House
model program in Wake County. A significant accomplishment that
occurred during the process was getting the Raleigh City Council to
change the Raleigh zoning code to allow psychosocial programs.
Previously, day programs for people with mental illness could not be
located in Raleigh.
• Created a mental health awareness event, the Celebration of Courage,
(which depicts Van Gogh’s, Irises as an art installation of 1,000 45” silk
flowers). The event has raised awareness and funds for mental health
advocacy and education across the state each year.
• Community leader in organizing public meetings to discuss the need for
an inpatient psychiatric hospital unit.
• Strong voice for people with mental illness and their families.
• Served as President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) -
Wake County from 2003 – 2006. During her tenure, she rejuvenated this
nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, quadrupled the budget, and led
NAMI Wake to a reputation as one of the most effective advocacy groups
in the state.