About Us
OUR MISSION
Authentic Life Foundation is on a mission to bridge the gap for the uninsured, underinsured and those without the personal financial resources required to access individual, couples, family, group or substance abuse counseling in a timely manner from a licensed mental health professional.
OUR VISION
Authentic Life Foundation will provide a sustainable, community funded platform for providers willing to offer services at a reasonably reduced rate to help clients in need receive quality mental health services, regardless of their ability to pay. Building stronger practices and making a deeper positive impact on lives and the community.
OUR STATUS
We are a 501(c)(3), corporation.
OUR FIRST YEAR
2023 NUMBERS
The Authentic Life Foundation facilitated and helped pay for more than 500 hours of psychotherapy in the first year, helping more than 60 people who otherwise would not have been able to afford mental health counseling.
If you or someone know are in need of therapy and are uninsured, give us a call and we will do our best to connect you/them with a therapist at a rate you/they can afford.
If you would like to donate to the cause you can call, donate here or drop donations by the office.
HOW WE STARTED
The Chairman of the Board, Laurie Carpenter, started a private practice in 2020, in her home . Within one year she had expanded into an office space on the Independence Square, in Missouri. At that time she brought in another therapist to help meet the need in the community.
The phone calls started pouring in from people desperate to find a therapist so we immediately brought in a 3rd therapist. It did not take long to see the struggle people were having in paying for therapy sessions. Even the clients that were able to use insurance were still struggling to meet their deductible/co-pays. We did what we could do for self-pay clients and began seeing people at a reduced rate.
With a heart for helping, Laurie struggled to turn people away so she began paying out of her own pocket for people who could not afford therapy. She soon reached out to others for financial resources and Dianna Poston from Someone That Cares Int’l Ministry (S1TC), became a third party payer to help people receive therapy.
Knowing this wasn’t sustainable for just the two of them, Laurie reached out to a few friends and together they decided to start this foundation to help people who are ready for change, regardless of ability to pay.
OUR FOUNDER
Laurie Carpenter, LCSW, LSCSW, CCATP, CCTP, is a private practice owner in Independence, MO. She graduated from Park University in 2016. Laurie is happily married with 2 children. She is passionate about life, her family, healing and inspiring hope in others, and the CHIEFS. In her free time she enjoys activities with family and friends, church, going to concerts, and watching football.
BOARD MEMBER
Christopher Carpenter, CPS, Vice President
Authentic Life Foundation
Christopher Carpenter is a regional sales representative at Delden Manufacturing. His life has been touched by many personal losses due to mental health issues. As a result he has made it his mission to help connect others with the resources they need to overcome the barriers which keep them from living their best life.
He is a mentor to many. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing guitar, exercising and spending time with his family and friends.
BOARD MEMBER
Ronda Plummer, Secretary and Treasurer
Authentic Life Foundation
Ronda has been a Paralegal for approximately 28 years. During that time, she has worked on numerous projects involving coordinating large groups of individuals to come together for a common goal. She has also worked with the LIME Tree Recovery House providing Peer Counseling and taught various classes on general life challenges and how to overcome them. In her current position, Director of K-12 and Regulatory Affairs at Unite Private Networks, She has the pleasure of assisting underprivileged school districts across the nation in qualifying for and maintaining funding for Information Technology-related services through a program that is overseen by the Federal Communications Commission.
On a personal level, her family has been touched by mental health issues on a number of different fronts. In each instance, finding a qualified yet affordable mental health professional was overwhelming, cost prohibitive and a true impediment to getting the help her family needed in a time of dire need. She is passionate about helping others in the community to identify potential therapists and provide resources to help offset the cost that often cause them to be unable to receive the help and services they need to lead successful, healthy lives.
BOARD MEMBER
Dianna Poston
Authentic Life Foundation
Dianna Poston joined River of Refuge in 2016 as a volunteer. In 2017, she became the Administrative Assistant for the organization. Even in this role, she spent time with the families becoming a positive influence in their lives because of her passion for people in need. She later became a Case Manager.
She previously worked at Salvation Army Crossroads Family Shelter and is the Founder and Lead Minister of Someone That Cares Int’l Ministry (S1TC).
She enjoys riding her scooter, escaping to her little lake property by Truman Lake for refreshing getaways, spending time with family and friends, fellowshipping and supporting one another in encouragement and prayer. She loves a good bible study and recovery meeting. She loves a good cup of coffee with friends, a good laugh and sometimes a good cry. Dianna loves being part of the heart of her community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SantaCaliGon Days: Dunk For Mental Health
DATE: 8/30/2024 - 9/02/2024
🎉 Join Us at SantaCaliGon Days Festival: Celebrating Mental Health Awareness! 🎉
Are you ready for an unforgettable Labor Day weekend? Look no further! The Authentic Life Foundation is thrilled to invite you to our booth at the SantaCaliGon Days Festival in Independence, MO. From Friday through Monday, we’re turning up the heat (and the compassion) as we raise awareness for mental health and make a positive impact in our community.
Here’s what you can expect at our booth:
- Mission-Driven Fundraising:
- Our mission is crystal clear: supporting mental health initiatives. Every dollar raised goes directly toward providing essential services to those in need. Join us in making a difference!
- Narcan Education and Distribution:
- Knowledge is power! Swing by our booth to learn about Narcan—an essential tool in preventing opioid-related overdoses. Our team will be there to educate you and provide resources.
- 50/50 Raffle:
- Feeling lucky? Purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win big! Half of the proceeds go to our foundation, and the other half could be yours. 🎟️💰
- Stay Hydrated with Cold Water:
- Festival fun can be hot work! Grab an ice-cold bottle of water from us—it’s refreshing, and you’ll be supporting mental health awareness at the same time.
- Bean Bag Toss Game:
- Test your aim! Challenge your friends and family to a friendly bean bag toss game. Every Player wins!
- The Ultimate Dunk Tank Experience:
- Brace yourselves! Our dunk tank features a rotating lineup of incredible individuals who are passionate about mental health. Want to see your favorite therapist, peer support, student intern, or advocate take the plunge? Here’s your chance! 🌊💙
Remember, it’s not just about having fun (though we promise plenty of that). It’s about coming together as a community, breaking down stigma, and supporting one another. So mark your calendars, spread the word, and let’s make this Labor Day weekend truly memorable.
See you at SantaCaliGon Days—where compassion meets carnival! 🎪🌟
2nd Annual, Rock The Foundation Costume Party
DATE October 26, 2024
Join us for an evening of live music featuring KynFolk KC. We will have a costume contest with an awesome prize and wrap up the evening with the MONSTER MASH!
It will be a great night with snacks, cash bar, fellowship, and FUNdraising!
We will have many items for raffle, a silent auction, and a 50/50 raffle.
One raffle ticket is included with the price of your ticket. Tickets are $25.
All proceeds go to meet the mission of The Foundation.
Purchase tickets in advance or at the door.
We can't wait to see you there.
3rd Annual Love in Motion Gala
Save the date:
2/15/2025
More info coming soon
Donate Today
We have multiple options to accept donations.
1) Our mailing address is: PO BOX 288, Independence, MO 64050
2) Drop by our office at: 224 W Maple Ave., Independence, MO 64050
3) Give us a call at 816-381-7690, to run a card or set up recurring donations.
4) You may donate through Square Online, with Apple Pay, Gpay or a debit/credit card at the link below.
https://authentic-life-foundation-thank-you-for-your-donation.square.site/
5) You may donate through Venmo.