The Suicide Crisis Center of North Texas has been in operation since 1968, and it offers a 24-hour crisis hotline that receives about 1,500 calls per month, as well as trained counselors to serve in a suicide survivors support group.
In 2007, Yvonne Crum met Margie Wright, the executive director of the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, at a charity event. They must have hit it off because not only did Wright ask Crum to organize an event that would benefit the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas. She wanted it to also be fabulous enough that potential donors would actually want to attend.
“A good friend of mine lost her child to suicide, and I wanted to do something,” Crum says.
She wanted to “make it a bit about fashion and keep the evening upbeat,” but never lose the “message of helping those in crisis … especially suicidal crisis.”
That's when the black-tie gala, Fashion Stars for a Cause, was born. Since its inception, it has raised more than $2 million, thanks in large part to the dozen women picked as ambassadors each year. Those ambassadors help promote the event and sell raffle tickets.
Elizabeth Scrivner, CEO of Park Cities Counseling, is one of the ambassadors this year.
"I am determined that we together can make huge changes in education, work environments, our homes and in our relationships to support each other," Scrivner says. "Mental health and addiction are treatable. Suicide is not. My stepson died from mental health and addiction issues, and my passion for prevention increased."
Crum also stresses the importance of suicide prevention awareness."Mental health and addiction are treatable. Suicide is not. My stepson died from mental health and addiction issues, and my passion for prevention increased." – Elizabeth Scrivner
tweet this
“It's so important as we lose so many each year who completed suicide," Crum says. "After my friend losing her son and not ever wanting to get out of her bathrobe, I keep thinking that I must find a way to get the word out that there is help."
According to the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 24 in Texas and the third for people ages 15 to 24 in the United States.
Wright says Fashion Stars for a Cause is the main fundraiser for Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas.
“Suicide is a leading cause of death in our community," Wright says. "We raise funds to keep our programs going. We have a crisis line, a survivors of suicide program and a program for teens, as well as community education and awareness.”
The Dallas Country Club will host the annual Fashion Stars for a Cause Gala on March 29.
