The nonprofit Touchstone Foundation will hold its third annual Feast of the Senses fundraiser and auction on May 9, 2024, at Excelsior, in Lancaster. They are also celebrating their 25th anniversary, dating from the sale of Community Hospital of Lancaster in 1999. This unique dining experience features five food and beverage stations highlighting each of the Touchstone Foundation programs and the five senses. The menu features locally sourced ingredients that showcase one of the senses, encouraging guests to experience them all.

SEE—Butter Board, and Rise Above Youth Summit program. 

SMELL—Smoked Brisket Station, and Mental Health Clinical Fellowship program. 

HEAR—Grilled Vegetables and Warm Grain Bowl, and Parent Mental Wellness program.

 FEEL—Taco Table, and Mental Health Access Assistance program. 

TASTE—Pasta Bar, and Mental Health Careers Scholarship program, plus dessert.

Executive Director Anna Kennedy says, “With our mission to increase youth mental wellness, we are really looking forward to highlighting our programs and celebrating 25 years in Lancaster County.” Guests will learn more about the Touchstone Foundation and how the organization is championing mental well-being for young people in Lancaster County. The event includes a silent auction, raffles and a live auction with HK Keller Auctioneers.

The inaugural event in 2022 raised more than $90,000 to support children, youth and families.  They help families in need afford therapy, contributing $50 per visit towards a copay or deductible. Scholarships are provided for students pursuing careers in mental health, and a training program helps graduates obtain the clinical supervision hours required to earn a license to practice in mental health care. These are the core goals:

Improving access: mental health access assistance to 1,365 therapy sessions for kids and parents in Lancaster County. Youth Mental Wellness microgrants were awarded to 12 local community organizations

Building the talent pipeline: mental health career scholarships to nine students in psychology, social work and nursing. Mental health clinical fellowships support 34 masters of social work graduates, and 13 newly licensed therapists/counselors.

Creating awareness: parent mental wellness through the new “A moment to breathe” parent group with community action partnership (CAP). Rise Above Youth Summit for high school helps students to eliminate the stigma of youth mental illness by connecting them to local professionals in Lancaster County

Silver sponsors: Alegre Events, CH&E Construction, CSG-Community Services Group, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, Lancaster County Community Foundation, Move Forward Counseling, TEAMCare Behavioral Health, Woodstream Foundation and UPMC

Bronze sponsors: Appel, Yost & Zee, City Limits Foundation, Green Meadow Farm, HK Keller Auctioneers, Natural Awakenings magazine, Penn State Health, Soliman Photography & Videography, Spring House Brewery, Trout CPA and Truist Bank.

Friend sponsors: Pat and Marian Anderson, Adam and April Biuckians, Community Action Partnership (CAP), Compass Mark, HACC-Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, Mental Health America of Lancaster County, Samaritan Center and Wellness Works in Schools.