Sky's the Limit Fund

We received a grant in 2018 that helped defray the cost of wilderness therapy for our daughter. Wilderness Therapy was a great choice for her and our family. Our experience with STLF was so impactful and genuine that I got involved and became a board member. It's a pleasure working with a group that cares so much and makes such a difference for struggling kids and their families, which has only gotten worse with Covid and social media.

STLF has been and incredible resource for my family! This has included financial support as well as parent guidance and assistance to for my daughter. It is the only organization that I know of that gives this type of support free to families with kids that attend a Wilderness Therapy program. Wilderness therapy is extremely expensive, which limits so many families from using these highly valuable programs. STLF made it possible for my family to get the support we desperately needed with our daughter. Also, the people who are part of the program have first hand knowledge with Wilderness and everyone we were in contact was caring, compassionate, and patient at times when our family was in a full crisis. I cannot express enough gratitude to everyone who is part of this organization.

As a parent of a child who had an incredibly positive experience in wilderness therapy I wanted to give back to help others benefit from the power of this therapeutic milieu and found STLF. I was so impressed by the number of families they helped attend wilderness therapy as well as support afterwards, that I was eager to join this great non profit as a donor and board member. I continue to be impressed by STLF’s leadership in the field of outdoor adventure and behavioral health and continuous efforts to find new ways to fundraise and grow. Everyone at STLF is passionate about the mission it serves.

As an alumni Wilderness parent, I am passionate about the benefits of Wilderness Therapy. I believe in its healing powers for mental health issues. After my son went to a program in 2017, I discovered STLF and the wonderful work they do. We were fortunate enough to have the resources to pay for Wilderness; many do not. We wanted to give back and so we started donating to STLF. After that, I became a parent volunteer with STLF, supporting others as they navigate their way on this journey.

STLF provides grants, family coaching, and parent support for those in need. I know they have helped save many families by giving them hope and putting them on a path to healing.

In 2016, Skys the Limit Fund(STLF) gave me the opportunity to go to OpenSky Wilderness Therapy. A resource I desperately needed and would not have been able to access without the guidance and financial resources STLF was able to provide. All involved were empathetic, patient, and truly subject matter experts. What they did for my family was life-changing, and I am so glad to know they are impacting several others.

Sky's the Limit helped our family afford the expense of wilderness therapy for our granddaughter. With the grant from Sky's the Limit, and the wilderness program matching the grant, we were able to send her for the very needed time to heal and recover from deep losses. She has gone on to graduate and is now healthy, happy, and transitioning into adult responsibilities. Her grandfather and I are so proud of her progress. The follow-up support from Sky's the Limit has been far more than we dreamed. With the additional benefit of coaching and counseling support, we can not say enough good about the work this organization does for kids from hard places, as well as those that love them.

Sky's The Limit Fund is a great organization. They have supported countless families that have a child struggling with mental health and behavioral issues fund treatment. This treatment supports not just the child but the entire family though engagement in clinical best-practices combined with outdoor behavioral healthcare.

When I was introduced to STLF, I was confused about our family's next step and I was discouraged about the possibility of our nephew participating in a quality wilderness therapy program. STLF did an amazing job of expediting my application with an extremely personal touch, with follow-up communication on a quick timescale. The phone interview helped me realize how much I cared for my nephew and wanted the best for him, even though I felt hurt at that present moment. STLF shared their own personal stories, which gave me courage. I am happy to say that without STLF my nephew would not have experienced wilderness therapy. With the quick turnaround, and excellent communication between STLF and the wilderness program, I was able to drive my nephew from the hospital directly to the program. So thankful for STLF!

The staff at Sky's the Limit carefully listened to my needs and reached out to help me during a time of crisis with my daughter. It was because of their caring, understanding and offer of financial assistance that I was able to take the next step in making a commitment to treatment for her and our family. The staff clearly and honestly stated what they were able to help with and did so in an expedient manner. I am ever grateful for their compassion and caring.

Sky's the Limit Fund gave hope to my family that we can save our daughter. Being new in this country and having a child that goes down the spiral is a very scary experience. We were not only not able to send our daughter to wilderness therapy financially, but we didn't even have an idea as to what wilderness therapy was about nor any other treatment option. I felt extremely lost until we reached the skilled staff at STLF who were able to lead us through the whole process financially and emotionally. They provide an abundant amount of support. Without them we wouldn't be able to help our daughter. I cannot thank enough STLF for being there for me, my daughter and the rest of my family at a time when we needed help the most!

STLF is and was an exceptional, stress relieving funding source for me when I ran out of good fitting programs and money to help my daughter. I had exhausted all my financial resources because of years of paying for classes/programs that were more of a band-aid type approach. After consulting with many specialist and trying everything in my power, I was in despair and very scared for my daughter. I was told one of the best ways to help my daughter, at that point, was to send her to a wilderness therapy camp. I could not afford the price tag of wilderness camps. Through much research and consulting, I found STLF. It saved my daughter and I! Our lives are still on the mend but I can't imagine how it would be if I wouldn't have been able to afford wilderness camp. STLF is the only reason I was able to send her to camp. After 1 1/2 years since her graduation from the camp, my daughter still uses skills she learned at the wilderness camp to help her cope better. I will forever be grateful to STLF.

Recieving support from STLF has been wonderful. As a single mother it was something I couldn't imagine not reaching out for to help my son. He is excelling where he is and with this support I am gracious.

Our family received generous, conscientious support from STLF. It greatly helped us in accessing services that might have otherwise been unreachable for our son/grandson.
We are and always will be thankful for their assistance!

Being on the board of STLF has been life changing for me. My love for this cause is unmatched and is one of the proudest parts of my life. The dedication of the board members, the volunteers and most of all the families we serve are all angels in my book.
Every letter we receive from a family continues to affirm the reason for it's inception...we help save lives...
not only the people we help send to Wilderness Therapy, but the families who have done everything to help the children they love.
I am honored to be a small part of something that makes such a large difference in the lives of those we serve...Thank you Sky's The Limit Fund

Without the assistance of Sky's the Limit Fund, I shudder to think where our family would be today.

A year and a half ago, my beautiful daughter was spiraling out of control, and her risky behaviors, brought on by intense traumatic experiences, were leading to increasingly dangerous situations. I truly feared for her life. After hearing about wilderness therapy, I knew my daughter would benefit from this experience but also knew this was something I could not afford. What an awful feeling it was not being able to be able to pay for the therapy and assistance that could potentially save my daughter's life!

Our educational consultant suggested I apply for assistance from Sky's the Limit Fund, and I did. The very next day, one of the board members contacted me and set up a telephone meeting to get the ball rolling in helping me to send my daughter to a top-notch wilderness therapy program. Within a week, I was informed that Sky's the Limit would provide a very generous contribution for our daughter and the wilderness therapy program matched this contribution. This was the ONLY way my daughter received the help she so desperately needed.

Today, my daughter is thriving, not just surviving. She is so changed by her experience in wilderness therapy that she has made it a goal to return to work for such a program. She is a leader among her peers and has tossed aside her old risky behaviors and is committed to her recovery and growth as a positive, loving young woman.

When I wrote to the board members of this foundation to thank them for the assistance and let them know just what their assistance had done for our family, they thanked me for allowing them to help. What terrific, humble, loving people. I can't say enough about Sky's the Limit Foundation.

My 17-year-old daughter was in crisis and every intervention had failed. I knew I was losing her and was desperate to find help. My research pointed me to the most effective treatment for teens in crisis: Wilderness therapy programs.
While the solution was obvious, the expense was prohibitive. As a single mother, I simply could not afford her treatment-until I discovered The Sky’s the Limit Fund. It was a heart wrenching decision to send her away, but I believe it saved her life.
My daughter spent spent 11 weeks in a Wilderness program. The intense therapy and support lead to the discovery of an unreported trauma. She learned how to feel and express her emotions and how to take responsibility for her actions. Through the family program, we improved our communication style and understanding of each other.
This has been the hardest year of my life and yet it has produced my greatest joy. My daughter is healthy, happy and excited about her future. Thank you Sky’s the limit fund. Without your support, we might be facing a very different future.

STLF has helped our family in a way is truly far beyond what I can express in words. We were at the end of our rope and was being turned down help from many different programs and we found one program that would take out daughter but the financial burden was causing stress on our family. After contacting STLF they gave us hope we saw that there was a light. Our daughter attended the program and she came back a different person. Thank you for giving us hope in our future.

In November of 2013 my daughter was spiraling out of control. The school that she attends offered her the option of attending a wilderness program or be expelled from school. Being a single mother I did not know how I was going to afford this option. Her school referred us to a program with excellent credentials. I knew I needed to do everything I could to help my daughter. The wilderness program that was chosen, told me about Sky's The Limit Fund. I gave them a call and they were so incredibility supportative and understanding of the situation I was in. I only hope that one day I am able to repay them for the assistance they gave me. My daughter has benefited greatly from this experiance. I can not thank this organization enough for all they have done. After all, a parent is only as happy as their least happy child.

This is the only organization that I have felt personally driven to become involved with. It was started and is run by dedicated people who are 100% committed to helping kids in need. I have been moved to tears by the grateful parents and kids who have been helped by this program. If you want to know that your donations will go to something wonderful and transforming, this is a great charity.

As the Executive Director of a partner program I can confidently attest to the passion, compassion and professionalism of the incredible people at Sky's the Limit Fund. They have made our program possible for numerous families who otherwise could not have afforded it. Simply put, they are changing and in many cases, saving lives through their efforts.

I work in admissions for a partner program of Sky's the Limit Fund and the most heartbreaking part of our work is that so many families who want to send their child to us just can't afford to provide top-notch treatment for their son or daughter. In some of these cases, their child is on the verge of dangerous or risky behaviors that could have disastrous or even potentially fatal consequences if they don't get the help they need. For these families, it is not a stretch to say that the STLF has likely saved lives! My hat's off to the Board and the staff for raising money and for working with families to help them get the help they need!

I have been working with families in crisis for over 17 years, as an Admissions advisor at Wingate Wilderness, Skys the Limit Fund has helped numerous families who would otherwise not have been able to attend the program. I cannot say enough about the service they offer, the support they give our families, and the way Skys the Limit treats them with respect and honor. It is such a difficult time, and these families are in such pain, it is a beautiful thing when this program can assist without shaming them. I am so grateful for their amazing work.

I have seen first hand, in my own family the amazing transformation made possible by wilderness therapy and am a proud supporter of the work done by Sky's the Limit Fund.

In November of 2013 my son was in crisis. We took him to different doctors and hospitals and none of it was helping him. We decide on Wilderness Therapy at Open Sky, but the cost was prohibitive. Sky's the Limit was recommended to us and we made the call. The staff and board member were AMAZING! They were so quick to help and so understanding. After what had felt like a long journey they were a light of hope. We knew that Wilderness Therapy would help our son and it DID!! Without Sky's the Limit we would still be on a hard road or worse. Our family cannot thank Sky's the Limit enough, they helped us in a very dark hour.

Allowing struggling young adults to find themselves again through the guidance of nature and strong, compassionate support staff is an AMZING opportunity that not all parents can afford for their children. Thank goodness for the 'Sky's the Limit Fund' so that the transformative experience of wilderness therapy can be experienced by needy youth from all income brackets.

All I can say is that sending my son to Open sky saved his life and I truly wish that everyone in need of their service could have the opportunity. Because of his experience at Open Sky my son is now a confident, kind young man getting ready to start college in the fall and hoping to pursue a career in therapy so that he can help others as he was helped.

I've witnessed spoken words from some of the young people served by this wonderful organization at their annual fund raisers. I've seen the tears as they shared their story - and each of these kids have a compelling story - and I've seen the transformation in their body and spirit when they begin to talk about what Sky's The Limit Fund has done for them. I've witnessed first hand the dedication of the staff who work tirelessly in support of their deserved clients. I've heard the harrowing statistics on the tough issues this organization is trying to change. But most of all - I've seen the DIFFERENCE they are making in the positive turn around of these kids. What a wonderful organization these people have created!

Sky's the Limit saves troubled kids lives by providing scholarships to Wilderness Programs. I am an educational consultant who worked with a family with a young girl who desperately needed an intervention. Her life was spinning out of control. She was experimenting with drugs, alcohol and sexual acting out. Sky's the Limit provided a generous scholarship; the Wilderness Program matched it and this young lady's life was saved.

"You're always in trouble" "You never do what you are told" "You're a slacker" "Why can't you just straighten up?" “Why can’t you be a normal kid like…?” All of the refrains heard, absorbed in their heart and mind. But no one hears the silent sense of loss and desperation – they just see the actions of a youth on the edge, hanging on to what little self-esteem remains in their hearts.

I was fortunate enough to be asked to join The Sky’s the Limit Fund as a Board Member two years ago at the request of the Founders, Rochelle and Lani. Since joining I have been able to speak with those trouble youths and their parents. The stories are indeed sad and desperate. What makes it worth every phone call is being able to provide immediate support and then Grants that are matched by the receiving Wilderness Program for the youth in need.

The letters from the parents and the youths after the Wilderness Program demonstrate that having gone through the tough times, there is a beacon and a ray of hope that now takes place in those people’s lives.

It wasn't until I had the opportunity to meet and interview young adults currently in wilderness therapy that I fully understood why this therapy works and why its cost prohibitive to those needing it most. The kids I interviewed for a film were raw, hurting, yet grateful to be in a safe place surrounded by love and time to address their issues. Depression, self harm, drug abuse, bullying, mental illness - are just some of the afflictions yet have no bearing on socioeconomic status. So why is it only "rich" kids get the help they need? Sky's The Limit Fund is there for those struggling families that have no where else to turn. Over 50 young adults have been helped by the Fund and have or are currently transforming their lives as a result. But the requests far exceed the funds available. Please consider donating to this worthwhile organization and helping the struggling youth in your own community.