Mission Statement
The Turn-A-Frown-Around Foundation, Inc. (TAFA) is a 501-c3 non-profit organization dedicated to assisting those who have lost hope--especially those who suffer from psychiatric and physical disorders, lovelessness, isolation, and abuse. The foundation is a mission of joy, compassion, and unconditional love. It offers an abundance of attention and creates Forever Friendships for those who are hurting in nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, group residences, children's homes, or individual shut-ins. It does this by providing an army of caregivers, Forever Friends, who bring love, laughter, and a listening ear, as well as motivational, inspirational, and therapeutic entertainment. The foundation is dedicated to developing hope in those who lack it. Finally, the foundation is a mental health advocacy group. It brings encouragement and draws widespread public awareness to many human conditions on the part of both those who suffer and those who are surrounded by this suffering.
Description
They told us we were crazy. We told them that we are crazy enough to care.
Having suffered - and subsequently overcome - homelessness, three failed businesses, two failed marriages, multiple stays in psychiatric wards, and two suicide attempts, compassion and love saved TAFA co-founder Drew Horn’s life and he now is trying to bring this same compassion to others. Drew is a motivational, inspirational, therapeutic comic and clown." In order to keep a promise to his daughter that he would never attempt suicide again, Drew began to pursue comedy which gave him a reason to get up each morning. Eventually, Drew realized that he wanted to do more than entertain - he wanted to end loneliness for individuals isolated because of their disabilities, living in an institution, or falling through the cracks of society.
Since its inception in August 2001, the Turn-A-Frown Around Foundation, Inc. has brought love and laughter to those in nursing homes, psychiatric wards, and related facilities. A staggering 50% of nursing home residents and 75% of psychiatric patients will die without a friend each year. TAFA realizes that this problem is too major, and the solution too simple, to ignore. TAFA’s mission is to assist people living with psychiatric and physical disabilities who have lost hope or feel isolated and friendless, by connecting them with a Forever Friend. Forever Friends develop friendships through personal visits, phone calls, and even email.
TAFA’s vision is to populate the world with Smile Stations, a gathering of Forever Friends whose sole mission is to end loneliness, one friendship at a time.
