In 1985, the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Neenah/Menasha was incorporated as a non-profit organization, dedicated to the purpose of providing support and education for family members of persons with metal illness and advocating for the welfare of the mentally ill. NAMI of Neenah/Menasha was an affiliate of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).

 

In the mid to late 1980's, NAMI of Neenah/Menasha decided to become involved with "hands on" work with people with mental illness. First, NAMI obtained a HUD grant to help in the purchase of a home in Neenah to be used as a group home fore eight people. Touchstone Manor was licensed as a community based residential facility (CBRF), with limited supervision. At this time, NAMI of Neenah/Menasha became a United Way agency to help with the on going operating expense of Touchstone Manor.

 

Later, NAMI started a drop-in center for people with mental illness (Friendship Place), which originally used church facilities, and then moved to the present location of 220 N. Commercial St., Neenah, WI  54956.

 

In the early 1990's, the landlord, St. Paul Lutheran Church, offered the building to NAMI at a reasonable price, and the purchase was made. An extensive fundraising drive raised enough income to pay off the mortgage within a few years.

 

In 1999, Touchstone Manor was closed and sold, due to increasing problems with State regulations, as well as a diminished need for this type of housing, leaving the Friendship Place drop-in center as NAMI's only "hands on" operation.

 

In 1999 the United Way of the Fox Cities requested that NAMI review the organizational structure of Friendship Place to consider adding a full-time staff position to direct the operation. In addition, they requested that Friendship Place operate more autonomously from NAMI. As a result of this request, a steering committee was formed to study the situation.

 

The Steering Committee made the recommendation to the NAMI Board and United Way to establish Friendship Place as a separate 501 (c) 3 corporation. A corporation was formed soon after, and a full-time executive director was sought to oversee the operation.

 

The year 2000 was dedicated to accomplish the goal of separation, creating two agencies out of one.

 

Friendship Place has been very successful, because the participants who attend claim it as their own. A "family atmosphere" exists, where people with mental illness can safely gather in a clean, non-judgmental, comfortable setting where they can lead a more normal life, develop interpersonal relationship skills, and build self-esteem.

Thank you to all that have helped bring enthusiasm and commitment in order to make Friendship Place, Inc. what it is today. May Friendship Place, Inc. continue to serve the persons with chronic mental illnesses of the Fox Cities with the quality of care it has provided over the past decade.