Matthew Shapiro

GOAL: $3,000

Matthew has worked at NAMI-NYS for 13 years and now serves as the Associate Director, Public Affairs. He is proud to be a part of the NAMI-NYS family and the opportunity to help other families like his that have been impacted by mental health issues.

When not working, Matthew enjoys being outside in nature and hiking. He also enjoys traveling, going to concerts, movies, reading and watching sports especially baseball (Mets), football (Giants) and boxing. Matthew also enjoys writing and he used to be a music journalist.

Matthew thinks it's important to share our experiences and stories to help other people and to let people impacted by mental health challenges know they are not alone.

Matthew wants to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma that still surrounds mental health issues. Being a model ambassador is important to him as it allows him to use his story to help others.

Rachel & Vinnie Lauria

GOAL-$3,500

Rachel is 36 years old and married to her wonderful husband Vinnie. She is also mom of 4 kids, Vinnie Jr, Anthony, Anna and Sarah ages 10, 8, 6 and 4. Being a parent to these four has been the best experience of Rachel's life!

Rachel believes that connection and community are two of the keys to maintaining wellness and has been blessed to have her family as well as her friends and community to help her stay connected.

To maintain her own wellness, she enjoys exercise and has a small group of friends that keep each other motivated to keep going when it feels impossible. Rachel is active in her faith and church parish as a religious education teacher. She is also a member of the school board, as well as a board member for the HFM Prevention Council.

Additionally, Rachel is a health/life coach where she enjoys helping people focus on their own health and wellness needs to create and maintain a full, satisfying life they feel in control of and comfortable in.

In Rachel's professional life, she is the Bureau Director of Treatment and Recovery at the New York Council on Problem Gambling. She would like to encourage people to include gambling disorder when thinking of mental illness. Gambling Disorder is often co-occurring with anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder. It is important to do screenings for problem gambling because it is difficult to detect, often referred to as the "hidden addiction", while the signs and symptoms of the co-occurring disorders are more easily spotted and understood, underlying gambling problems can be missed.

Like with other mental health disorders, gambling disorder is treatable! NYCPG has top notch providers and can connect people (including affected family members) to a variety of services to improve the quality of people's mental health and wellness. Visit nyproblemgamblinghelp.org to connect with help or for more information.

Vinnie is a 10 year old 5th grader at Wells Central school in the southern Adirondack Mountains. Vinnie is the oldest of four children and he takes the role of being the biggest brother seriously.

Vinnie plays soccer and lacrosse as well as participates in downhill skiing. This year he'll be challenging himself by learning to snowboard.

Vinnie is an altar server in his church. He also enjoys helping at the church garage sale every summer as well as pitching in at other community events.

Vinnie enjoys being outside and moving by doing things like ropes courses, skateboarding, sports, kayaking and hiking.

Vinnie is also an avid reader, having completed the Harry Potter series and is now working on the Percy Jackson series.
He also enjoys art-painting, drawing, jewelry making and wood burning. Vinnie learned to play the baritone in 4th grade and is starting a new instrument this year in 5th grade.

Lacey Roy

GOAL-$5,000

Lacey is the owner of Full Bodied Health, a nutrition company focusing on the emotions that often hold us back as much as the food that makes up our nutrition. She loves to move through dance (West Coast Swing, Waltz and can't wait to learn the Bachata) and running when it's feeling good. As a fiery redhead Lacey loves to read, debate and "buck the system", she came here to change the world starting with the nutrition and health industries.

Lacey experienced Bipolar symptoms for over a decade, was a board member for NAMI Syracuse and founded a different support group for individuals with mental illness (focus on our capabilities BECAUSE of our symptoms versus most support groups which focus only on what's wrong and overcoming those challenges from an area of "less than").

The lack of equity and equality of mental health services as part of the medical community, her bipolar was diagnosed and re-diagnosed multiple times until a forward thinking endocrinologist tested for Iron Overload. A positive diagnosis overturned the bipolar symptoms and Lacey has been symptom free, virtually overnight, for two years.

Her mission is to bring awareness to the lack of parity in how mental health services are perceived, accountability and normalize mental health overall.

She has been sought for a TEDx talk and is working on the book of her story as well. In addition, her nutrition company is vocal on the impact food has.

Lisa O'Donnell Wolfe

GOAL-$3,000

Lisa is 55 years old and a mother of two beautiful children. I am a Stress Management Coach, personal trainer and fitness instructor.

Lisa was officially diagnosed with dysthymic disorder in 2001 after fighting to feel happier and less anxious on her own for many years. With a troublesome marriage, a baby and a demanding career, she could no longer deal with the extreme levels of stress and emotions alone.

Through continued therapy over the years, and as a certified mastery level life and health coach, Lisa has made it her mission to be an advocate for mental health. Using her own experiences and education, she helps working mothers who are overwhelmed by stress to learn how to put themselves first without the guilt.

Lisa is an advocate for mental health because of her own journey with depression and anxiety. She wants people to know that it's okay to admit that we need help, and that there are resources out there for everyone. Many times people feel like they need to suffer in silence, but her goal is to spread the word that they are not alone.

Christine Baxter

GOAL-$3,000

Christine is a lifelong resident of the Capital Region and currently resides in the City of Albany. She is a graduate of the University at Albany and Drew Theological Seminary in Madison NJ.

She has been on the Board of Directors for NAMI Capital Region NY for one year as a member and also a chair for their Board Development Committee and Director of Volunteers.

Christine is also a member of the Capital Area Council of Churches Ecumenical Witness of Baptism team and a member of Christ Church UMC in Troy NY.

Within religious organizations and communities of faith it is extremely difficult to discuss matters of serious mental illness or mental well being. Ecumenical leadership must come together to discuss and acknowledge that 'mental health' is HEALTH and that being a healthy Christian does not mean that one must hide anything that is painful or distressing. All to often there is a divide between mental wellness and spiritual wellness. As a NAMI Model Ambassador Christine hopes to open the doors to much needed conversations about faith, health, and wellness and the ways they work together within our communities.

Peg Curtiss

GOAL-$3,000

Peg is 55 years old. She loves modeling, acting, singing, crafting, coloring, her 2 wonderful cats, and writing.

Peg has been affected by mental illness since a young child. Growing up being overweight didn't help the matter. She always dreamed of being a model, singer and actress but her physical appearance got in the way, this added to her depression and anxiety. She isolated and exhibited self destructive behavior. If there had been a NAMI Basics back then Peg believes things would have gotten better much sooner. But thanks to taking
Peer to Peer in 2014 she became involved with Nami, becoming a Peer to Peer teacher, Connections facilitator and state trainer, and In Our Own Voice presenter. And this is her 3rd year modeling for OTM so her dream of modeling has come true!

Maddie Canastra

GOAL-$500

Madeline (Maddie) is a 10-yr old from Cicero, NY, entering into the 5th grade. This will be her 3rd time modeling for NAMI's Off the Mask. She dances competitively, and really enjoys dancing the musical theatre and lyrical styles. Maddie's goal is to one day attend Harvard Law School. She enjoys video editing and spending time with her twin brother and older brother, when she's not dancing. Maddie loves to support NAMI because, "NAMI gives people a place to be accepted no matter what. We all need that!"

Maddie would like to be a NAMI-NYS Mental Health Ambassador/Model because this event is really fun, and it gives us a place where we can talk about our feelings and be accepted. Also, she enjoys raising money for NAMI because they help people who need it the most. NAMI is a big part of Maddie's family because her mom teaches classes for them and is on the Board. Maddie's mother really helps people and she wants to do her part too.

Brian Belt

GOAL:$3,000

In addition to being a professional model in Zurich Switzerland in 1989, Brian has a vast history of mental health experience as both a recipient and provider of mental health services. Below is a brief narrative of his Recovery story. Brian was diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizotypal personality disorder, and substance abuse disorder in the year 2005. He took his first real steps towards mental health recovery in the year 2010 after listening to his mom's pleas of concern for his life. Brian agreed to move into a community residence called the Hearth in Philmont, New York where he began to attend recovery classes that evolved into the PROS program. Brian's recovery level improved to such an extent that he began teaching as a volunteer at PROS and runs a weekly support group at the Columbia Memorial Psychiatric unit. He is now a Certified Peer specialist and the president of the Mental Health Awareness & Creative Arts Gallery. Their artists display their art on NAMICC website's artist exhibition space.

Lori Schneider

GOAL-$3,000

Lori is 59 years old, the Executive Director of NAMI Sullivan County, NY for 33 years and is an ardent mental health advocate. She has also been involved with Community Theatre since 1983 as both an Actor and Director.

Starting in 2019, she combined her passions for advocacy and theatre with a touring production of Duncan MacMillan and Jonny Donahoe's "Every Brilliant Thing". The powerful, one person play navigates difficult topics like Depression and Suicide with warmth and even humor and is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It incorporates audience involvement as pieces of the List of "Brilliant Things" worth living for is shared. Lori has performed Statewide as a fundraiser/awareness raiser for NAMI Sullivan, other NAMI affiliates and related organizations. COVID put the kibosh on several performances scheduled in 2020, but it is her hope that the show will once again, soon be "on the road!"

Lori is "Mama" to canine, feline and equine babies including Smokey, the NAMI donkey!

When Lori started with NAMI Sullivan in 1988, and would go to conferences, being in her mid 20s, she remembers so many people asking "Are you a Family Member?" The Adult Child and Sibling Network was just taking off and she remembers feeling funny when she would say "No." She recalls someone answering her, "Not YET" and she thought, "What, are they wishing a mental illness on my family?"

Little did she know then that several years later she would find out that yes, she was a family member. Unfortunately, it was only after her first cousin, Billy's death by Suicide that her Aunt shared with her, "I knew he was Depressed, but not THAT Depressed" -- no one ever mentioned Billy's Depression (what Lori has come to learn was a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder) No one spoke of it. Even to her, knowing she was with NAMI. Billy left five children, ages 8-22. He has beautiful grandchildren now, that will never know their Grandfather.

Shame has no place when it comes to mental illness. Stigma, leading to silence is the true Shame.

Eileen Geysen

$3,000

Eileen is 73 years old. She is the President of the Board of NAMI Sullivan and has been for the past fifteen years. She retired from the Monticello School District, having worked 33 years in the Pupil Personnel Office. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren. She belongs to a gym and loves to exercise daily, which helps her mental health!

Twenty five years ago, one of Eileen's sons began to exhibit some mental health issues. He was diagnosed with SchizoAffective Disorder. After approximately ten hospitalizations, he became medication compliant and has been doing well for the last fifteen years.
She and her husband have been involved with NAMI pretty much since he was diagnosed. NAMI has been a godsend to them.

Railea Rivera

GOAL $3,000

Railea is 23 years old and is an LPN but her goal is to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) as well as Holistic Health Nurse Practitioner (HHNP).

She is studying Kemetic Reiki in hopes to spread healing. Railea would like to volunteer wherever needed, hospitals, shelters, etc. and then slowly share other spiritual tools to the public. She believes in a mixture of whatever is the right treatment per individual. There are medications (big pharma and natural), therapy, yoga, reiki, so much that can be utilized when aiding mental illness.

That is why she would like to focus on both psychiatry and holistic health during her nursing journey. In her free time she likes to write poetry, paint and sing!

Railea was diagnosed with BPD at 18 after experiencing trouble with regulating her emotions since she was a kid. Railea and her mom are very close but even more so when she was a kid, to a point that caused extreme anxiety for her. She now knows that this was the fear of abandonment people with BPD tend to experience. Railea had a lot of family members die in a short time. This just added to her fear. It almost validated to her that loss happens at a frequent rate and she felt she needed to be aware of it at all times. So she began to think about it daily. "Who would she suddenly lose next?"

She was getting bad grades in high school, lashing out at her parents and then feeling terrible, thinking everyone would be better off without her. In 12th grade she went to a program offered to her that allowed her to complete high school in a room of less than 20 students at her local community college, online. She agreed to attend. She was on the brink at that point.

Long story short she hung in through every breakdown and is a successful 23 year old nurse furthering her career in mental health.

Kristen Garzone

GOAL-$3,000

Kristen currently uses her instagram to talk about her struggle with mental health and PPD; She has discussed on podcasts, blog posts all but not excluding such topics as suicide, depression, anxiety, rage, etc.

Kristen is a 9x marathoner/50 mile ultramarathoner mother from Troy, NY who is a self-named "mental health warrior". She uses miles to fundraise for different causes but more specifically Every Mother Counts and the foundation she just created for PPD, in honor of her best friend who lost her life due to it in 2017, called The Believe KNT foundation.

Her whole passion has become advocating for mental health and fighting in the open by sharing her story with the world to help others and help spread awareness. To be an Off the Mask Model and be part of this whole event means the world to her and helps to put her story out there to help others even more.

Benjamin Walle

GOAL-$3,000

Ben is 37 years old with a bachelor's in public relations. He currently owns his own company called "Name Brand Lab", specializing in Visual Design, Branding, Creative Consult (PR), Social Media Content, Web Design, Logos, & Invites.

He loves traveling & music festivals. His two favorite places are Morocco & Electric Daisy. Carnival (music fest).

Concert's fuel Ben & music makes his soul smile.

He loves good authentic food & a competitive game night with friends.

Mama's boy, always.

Identifying as an adopted, gay, black man with white parents in an interracial relationship, Ben has never been able to just check one box. He has always been an advocate to those that don't have one by standing in his truth and only being authentically himself. Ben looks forward to sharing more!

Being a model means that Ben gets to share his experience with others, which is the most important way we connect with one another. Hearing others stories allows us to understand who we are as human beings.

Ben states, "All I can do is be myself, speak my truth, listen & love. I look forward to getting to know everyone!"

Fawn Ruthie & Hannah Guyer

GOAL-$3,000

"My name is Fawn Ruthie Guyer and I will be modeling for Off the Mask along with my mommy Hannah Guyer. This is my first-time modeling for Off the Mask as I am only 4 months old right now, I will be six months in September. I like to play with my toys and make a lot of funny noises! I love kitties and doggies but most of all I love my Mommy and Daddy!

I want to raise money for NAMI Off the Mask because my Oma Christine Rickeman and Auntie Amanda Guzzo do so much work for both NAMI-NYS and NAMI Capital Region, and I know all the donations raised will help to support all the programs and advocacy NAMI offers. Even though I'm still so little I know I will never have to be afraid to talk about my feelings and can help end the stigmas of mental Illness!"

Greg Hitchcock

GOAL-$3,000

Greg Hitchcock, age 54, is affiliated with the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Historic Preservation Review Board for the city of Gloversville; a member of the Society for Professional Journalists; and the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association in Fulton and Montgomery counties.

A prominent filmmaker, his film credits include his recently released documentary short Pioneer Days: Fire in the Valley, a film about the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois, their history and impact on racism. His other film credits include Woodstock at 50, Heroin in Amsterdam, and the United Nations film asset Climate Change: The Adirondacks for which he earned an Honorable Mention award from the embassies of France in 2014.

Greg Hitchcock has been working for the last 20 years as a freelance writer and reporter for publications including the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union Tribune, Houston Chronicle and numerous business and trade journals.
He is also skilled at illustrations.

Greg Hitchcock is an Army veteran who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia while honorably serving as a TV/Radio Systems Specialist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Returning home, Greg entered university, first earning an Associate's degree at Schenectady County Community College in 1990, then transferring to the University at Albany earning a Bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Political Science in 1992.
Greg struggled for a while trying to find himself meanwhile managing his mental illness and maintaining his mental health through counseling treatment and medications. He found himself at a Day Treatment Center and lived in group homes for the mentally ill and disabled before finding his greatest strengths in writing and reporting for local newspapers.

Greg Hitchcock is someone with schizophrenia. His one wish is to be role model and advocate for others living with mental illnesses.

Living in group homes for part of his life, Greg has the lived experience of being compassionate with disadvantaged people and can empathize with those of differing views and attitudes.

Greg is also a consummate storyteller who loves learning from others. He has interviewed hundreds of people facing numerous challenges, and is able to communicate that effectively to others.

Heather Thompson

GOAL-$3,000

Heather is 24 years old, and is a model, social media coordinator and pageant girl. Her biggest passion is spreading mental health and mental illness awareness.

Heather has struggled with anxiety her whole life, but wasn't diagnosed until she advocated for herself to her doctor at the age of 20.

Anxiety ran her life until I was able to understand it, learn coping mechanisms, and also started taking antidepressants.

The biggest things she has learned from this journey is to not let my anxiety define her and to not fear seeking help.

Being a 2021 Off The Mask Model means so much to Heather. Being able to be a part of something that she cares so much about and it help others like her is so exciting. She really appreciates this opportunity and is excited to help others like herself.

Loki Anthony

GOAL-$3,000

Loki is 47 years old, has been married for 23 years and is a father of 3. He is also a professional Artist, Designer, and Barber. As an Artist & Designer, Loki has supported many nonprofit organizations over the years through his fashion and art experience-either by being involved in charity fashion shows, fundraiser auction events, or live art performances.

As a Barber, he has connected with a wide range of community members throughout the Hudson Valley and encouraged them to use their haircut experience as step towards better self-care.

As a Veteran of the USAF, Loki has experienced the trauma from tragic moments in our country's history such as serving during the September 11th attacks. What he has witnessed both as a military member of fellow service members who lost their lives, and as a US citizen who is from NY has left him with a diagnosis of PTSD. Loki can relate to the pain others feel from the loss of loved ones in and out of the military during the attack and subsequent wars-both in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He is also an artist, and his therapy for coping with those experiences is to be as creative as possible on a day to day basis. He hopes what he has shared helps others who have had similar experiences.

Loki's motto and mission is "Love Is Key". This stands for his passion to spread unconditional and universal love to others through his life's work.

Katie Regan

Goal-$500

Katie is 14 years old and excited to start her sophomore year of high school in the fall. Being active, hanging out with friends and expressing herself through art are things that motivates her the most. Participating in sports is one of her favorite things to do. Volleyball, basketball, and snowboarding are the sports she enjoys most, but she loves to try new things. This is her second year being an Off The Mask Model, working with NAMI helps her understand more and share with others the importance of mental health.

Last year during the pandemic, Katie's school year was switched to remote learning and she was unable to connect with friends. Being around people gives her energy and that vibe was suddenly lost. The sports teams she enjoyed so much began to limit and then cancel participation and some games. This past year was tough, not being able to be around friends and really get into sports made Katie feel way off of her game. Talking openly with friends who were going through similar feelings helped us lift each other up when necessary. Support is key, reaching out to help each other is always a game changer.

Being a 2021 Off The Mask Model helps Katie show that she is here for others to support them through a tough time. Learning to work through things instead of ignoring them is important in your daily life. Many people dismiss the fact that they do need support because they are too afraid of being judged. Having to put "on a mask" is a very common thing to do. Social Media seems to trick us into thinking that the normal is to have a perfect life and that everyone is happy all the time. To help people take off their mask, talking more about mental health can teach others that it isn't uncommon at all to need support in their lives. Using social media to spread the realities of mental health is helping yourself and others break the stigma associated with mental health. People need a reminder that not everyone is perfect and that its normal to have difficult times, there is always a way to push through it.

Danielle Kownack

GOAL-$3,000

Danielle is 38 years old and is a CNA for 19 years. Her fiancé for the past 13 years has been letting her work on herself and her sobriety. Danielle and her fiancé have 2 daughters, Danyella, 12 and Desiree, 16. Danielle loves to rollerskate and enjoys making people laugh and be the person of reason. She has learned to let go during her sobriety, meaning being able to know it's ok that she doesn't always have control especially when it has nothing to do with her. now that's an amazing feeling.

Danielle feels like she ran into Off the Mask for a reason. All of the things that are here on this very platform is something she has either gone through or struggled with. Danielle is very compassionate, that comes with being a nurses assistant.

John Johnson

Goal-$3,000

John Johnson is a Wesleyan University graduate with a B.A in Sociology. He went on to receive his masters degree in Special Education from Queens College. After a 30 year career in Youth Development, with jobs ranging from Director of College and Career Services with the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club...to Special Education teacher with the NYC Dept. of Education, John has always been an advocate for young people. He was Special Assistant to the Honorable Helen Marshall, first African American Borough President of Queens serving in the capacity of "Youth and Community Services Liaison. His career also took him to Atlanta, Ga. where he worked at Morehouse College, one of the Premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCU)in the country.

Living with the diagnosis of Bi-Polar has given John a unique perspective on Mental Health...relationships....work...caring for others and advocating for himself. Having been successful in navigating through what is no fault of his own, John got involved with Nami to share his story with the intention of inspiring and giving people hope... knowing that living with a Mental Health condition is not a death sentence and that you can live highly productive and satisfying lives.