“APA Gives Back” to Skid Row Running Club

Washington, D.C. May 3, 2021– As part of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) annual APA Gives Back program, APA President Jeffrey Geller, M.D., M.P.H., presented a donation today of $16,000 to this year’s recipient organization, the Skid Row Running Club (SRCC), during the Closing Session of the 2021 APA Annual Meeting. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell accepted the check on behalf of the SRCC.

Now in its 12th year, the APA Gives Back program provides an opportunity for APA, its members, and Annual Meeting attendees to support a community mental health organization in the city hosting the Annual Meeting. If not for the current COVID-19 pandemic, APA's in-person Annual Meeting would have been hosted in Los Angeles, where SRCC is based. The APA matches donations dollar for dollar. Since 2010, APA and members and attendees have donated more than $186,963 through the program.

The SRRC was founded in 2012 to provide a running program for the Skid Row homeless community. SRRC provides support to their runners to overcome alcohol and substance use disorders and achieve positive life goals. Donations enable the SRRC to purchase running shoes and clothes for their members and enter them into running events. “Skid Row Marathon,” a documentary about this organization, is available on DVD, Amazon Prime, iTunes and other digital platforms.

“I'm glad to see the generosity of APA members towards the Skid Row Running Club,” Geller said. “The organization provides, beyond the running program, a sense of fellowship, support, and hope to people who really need it.”

“One of our members often observes, ‘just show up, things will happen,’” said Judge Mitchell. “Amazing things—recovery, sobriety, a sense of community, a life restored. The mission of the Skid Row Running Club is infinitely more than just running.”

Contributions are made during the registration process through APA’s Annual Meeting registration portal. If you have already registered, you can donate by logging into the Registration Resource Center and selecting “Upgrade.” For more on the Skid Row Running Club, visit: http://www.skidrowrunningclub.com/.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information please visit www.psychiatry.org.