(Pictured left to right) - Rachael Cornelius, Northwoods COPE Coalition Co-lead and Community Health Educator for Vilas County Public Health, Don Elfstrom, Northwoods Classic Car Show Series, and Heidi Pritzl, Co-lead for the Mental Health and Suicide prevention subcommittee for COPE & Clinical Therapist for Aspirus Koller Behavioral Health
WOODRUFF, Wis. – The Northwoods Classic Car Show Series revved up their engines for a good cause and cruised into town with a generous donation to the Northwoods COPE (Community, Outreach, Prevention, and Education) Coalition.
Thanks to the efforts of Don Elfstrom, who organized the September car show at Colorama in St. Germain, the event raised $1,500 for COPE. This donation will help drive the coalition’s important work in mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and community education.
“This generous donation from the Northwoods Classic Car Show Series is more than just a financial contribution,” said Rachael Cornelius, Northwoods COPE Coalition Co-lead and Community Health Educator for Vilas County Public Health. “It's a powerful reminder that our community is committed to supporting mental health and suicide awareness.”
“Every dollar raised helps us spread crucial messages of hope, prevention, and support to those in need,” added Heidi Pritzl, Co-lead for the Mental Health and Suicide prevention subcommittee for COPE & Clinical Therapist for Aspirus Koller Behavioral Health. “With the continued support of local events like this, we can ensure that no one has to face mental health challenges alone."
The Tri-County Mental Health and Suicide Prevention committee is a subcommittee of the COPE Coalition, and they recently distributed coasters featuring Heads Up Guys, an organization from Canada, which is a free national online resource to help men improve their mental health and reduce the risk of suicide. The coasters also featured the 988-crisis line and other mental health information that were delivered to taverns and restaurants. This campaign will run again in May with coasters being dispensed to local golf courses. The focus was on men’s mental health as according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as state and national data reflects the majority of those who die by suicide are men between the ages of 45-54 and 85 and older.
"Giving back to those who are working tirelessly to raise awareness about mental health is incredibly important to my wife and I," said Don Elfstrom. "We’ve both experienced the pain of losing loved ones to suicide and mental illness. This is the second year in a row we’ve been able to contribute to the COPE Coalition, and we deeply appreciate the dedication of their team in bringing attention to the critical issue of suicide prevention in our community and beyond."
The Oneida County Health Department coordinates and provides technical support for the Northwoods COPE Coalition. Northwoods COPE’s mission is to serve and support all people affected by mental health and substance use through education, intervention and prevention. The tri-county coalition consists of representatives from Forest, Oneida, and Vilas counties.
Their four main objectives are:
- Decrease suicide and depression
- Decrease alcohol and other drug use
- Increase access to substance use and mental health services
- Strengthen data around mental health and substance use
The Northwoods Classic Car Show Series is proudly sponsored by Cathy’s Ice Cream, Marthaler Chevrolet, Red Canoe Coffee and Vintage Outlaws Car Club.
If you’re interested in becoming a member of the Northwoods COPE Coalition, please contact Rachael Cornelius at the Vilas County Public Health Department at 715-479-3657 or visit https://mhcopecoalition.wixsite.com/mysite. For more information about Aspirus Koller Behavioral Health, please visit aspirus.org.