An Evening of Mental Fitness Recap

Together with Rhone, the Positive Directions team and 125 guests gathered at the Westport Woman's Club on May 30th for An Evening of Mental Fitness. The evening was designed to raise awareness and critical funds for Positive Directions' prevention and counseling programs that support the community's mental health.

Vanessa Wilson (Positive Directions), Zac Clark (Release Recovery), Kate Sweeney (Rhone), Nate Checketts (Rhone), David Goldshore (Staples High School), Jennifer Tooker (First Selectwoman, Westport)

Nate Checketts, CEO of Rhone, kicked off the event with a powerful keynote about the important connection between mental wellness and physical fitness. He reminded us that a weekly two minute check-in with family and friends can make all the difference when someone is struggling with their mental health.

Joined by panelists Zac Clark, Co-Founder of the Release Foundation and CEO of Release Recovery; Vanessa Wilson, Executive Director of Positive Directions; and David Goldshore, Staples High School Basketball Coach, the vital need for mental health and substance misuse services for adults and youth was emphasized.

Guests were then called to task by participating in Rhone's signature Mind & Muscle Event run by Eric Johnson, local Celebrity Trainer and Co-Founder of HOMAGE. This physical movement set the stage for open and intimate group discussions where transformative connections were made.

Positive Directions raised close to $30,000 through ticket sales, private donations, a silent auction, and a donation of 10% of Rhone's Westport sales over the weekend. These funds will ensure that mental health and substance misuse services remain accessible and affordable to all who need them.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the event successful, especially our event sponsors! To learn more about Positive Directions, visit our website here, and stay tuned for more news and events.