Dear ____________,

(Insert a personal sentence about your affiliation with The Balanced Mind Foundation or your experience with the illness.)  The Balanced Mind Foundation is a national non profit which provides information, resources and support to over 500,000 families annually.  All of their services are free and they don't receive any pharmaceutical support.

The Balanced Mind Foundation has been selected as a candidate in the November Pepsi Refresh Campaign for a $250,000 grant to expand awareness and programming about youth mood disorders.  Grants are awarded by popular votes via the website, Facebook and text messaging.  Similar efforts at other high schools have moved The Balanced Mind Foundation from 296th to 8th place in the first week of November.

I'm writing to ask if you would consider letting students use their cell phones during their homerooms and texting their vote in November.  I realize cell phones are prohibited during school days, but other high schools are making an exception for a 30 second text which teaches kids about social activism and helping others.  Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens; according to a recent study at the National Institute of Mental Health, 11% of youth report being severely impaired by a mood disorder. (See attached press release.)  (Insert a sentence about a local story, and how it is a tragic reminder, if appropriate.)

I am attaching a copy of the flyer which students can post around the school, and I am more than happy to help in any way I can.  If the cell phone request opens a can of worms, perhaps students can set up laptop voting banks in the cafeteria during lunch. November is a month in which we give thanks, and I am so thankful for the chance to make an extraordinary impact on children's mental health.  We are very close!

On behalf of our own _____ High School students who are struggling, including my son/daughter ______, I thank you most sincerely for your consideration.  

Warmly,

Name
Address

Press Release: http://www.thebalancedmind.org/learn/library/cabf-pepsi-refresh-project-press-release
Flyers: http://www.thebalancedmind.org/learn/library/cabf-pepsi-refresh-project-flyer

P.S.  Anyone who signs up for a daily email reminder will be entered to win 1 of 3 iPads, if we win!
Visit http://www.thebalancedmind.org/pepsi to enter.