• Mission: Sky’s the Limit Fund (STLF) provides youth in crisis and their families the life-saving treatment of wilderness therapy. Wilderness therapy is transformative, and youth immersed in the wilderness for two to three months, with licensed mental health professionals, benefit from the effects of nature, enabling them to focus on their mental and physical well-being.
Wilderness therapy is expensive and rarely covered by health insurance, making it an unattainable option for many families. STLF, founded by two Los Altos residents, provides support to families that otherwise could not afford such treatment. STLF partners with 13 wilderness therapy programs across the U.S. that are required to match STLF’s funding, further reducing the financial burden on families.
STLF also provides critical transitional support through its Family Coaching Service when the youth returns home from wilderness therapy, giving the youth and families the best chance for success moving forward.
Since its inception, STLF has provided more than $3.6 million in support to more than 700 youth and their families, for a total of $7.2 million in support with its partner program match. More than 136 families have participated in the Family Coaching Service since it launched in 2016.
• 2020 update: The pandemic is impacting everyone – financially, socially, emotionally and/or physically. Given the uncharted territory, the effect on mental health is significant, especially for children, whose routines have been turned upside down. As the public health crisis continues, the need for wilderness therapy has grown exponentially. In response to the pandemic, STLF created a COVID-19 Response Fund, extending additional support to families for wilderness therapy treatment and its Family Coaching Service.
• Why the Holiday Fund is needed: This year STLF has experienced an 80% increase in applications for support over 2019. The nonprofit seeks to meet the growing need and transform the lives of even more youth in crisis.
Sky’s the Limit Fund
Location: Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, Milpitas
Founded: 2010
Annual budget: $1.08 million
Staff: 1 full-time employee, 5 part-time employees
Information: skysthelimitfund.org
