Scotland Family Counseling Center Celebrates Successful Fundraising Efforts and Community Support

Earlier this month, the Scotland Family Counseling Center proudly honored its community supporters during the annual Good Samaritan Society event, formerly known as the Silent Samaritan. This fundraising initiative aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances, can access essential mental health services. 

In 2025, the Good Samaritan Society has raised an impressive $115,718 through the generous contributions of 190 businesses, individuals, and congregational partners, including over 30 first-time donors. These funds are crucial for providing care to the underinsured and uninsured, allowing the Scotland Family Counseling Center to offer services without requiring insurance. For clients without insurance, fees are determined on a sliding scale based on household income, and the organization’s Cheryl Wood Client Aid Fund is available to assist families with low incomes. 

"The Good Samaritan event was a tremendous success, and we are thrilled with the turnout,” shared Whit Gibson, Scotland Family Counseling Center board chair.  “The Southern Dream is a wonderful venue and was beautifully decorated.  The venue, food, entertainment (Jim Morgan Jazz Group), and guest speaker (T. Gray McCaskill, CEO, Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC) all blended together perfectly to create an event that communicated, celebrated, and encouraged support for the mission of SFCC.” 

Since its inception in 2007, the Scotland Family Counseling Center has been a cornerstone in addressing the mental health needs of the community. With a dedicated team of six licensed clinical mental health counselors, the center offers a wide range of services, including therapy for depression, grief counseling, parenting support, and couples counseling. In 2024 alone, the center provided 3,797 therapy hours, making a profound impact on many lives. 

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our many generous donors for supporting our mission,” said Mary Neil Thompson, therapist and clinical director at Scotland Family Counseling Center. “Your contributions play a vital role in making mental health services accessible and affordable for those in need within our community. Thanks to your kindness, we can continue to provide essential resources and support to individuals and families, helping them navigate their mental health journeys.” 

The funds raised through the Good Samaritan campaign will be utilized for several key initiatives, including: 

• • Hiring additional licensed counselors to meet the growing demand for mental health services. 
  
  
• • Supporting the counseling team through professional development and access to the latest technology and resources. 
  
  
• • Expanding play therapy materials for young clients to create a safe environment for emotional exploration. 
  
  
• • Developing a personalized space for teen clients to facilitate comfortable expression and engagement in therapy. 
  
  
• • Increasing community outreach efforts to raise awareness and access to mental health services. 
  
  
• • Sustaining long-term availability of client aid funding for the underinsured and uninsured. 
  
  

“This has been our most successful campaign yet for the Scotland Family Counseling Center,” Gibson continued.  “The proceeds will play a crucial role in making mental health services accessible and affordable for those in our community who need it most. I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our event chairs, Guy and Flora McCook and Ben and Margaret Dickerson, for their outstanding efforts, as well as to the many dedicated volunteers who made this event possible.”   

Kirsten Dean, Executive Director, mirrored Gibson’s sentiment about the volunteer efforts emphasizing the importance of volunteerism in the event’s success. “We are so very thankful for all the incredible volunteers who carry the weight of the fundraising efforts for the Good Samaritan Society,” she shared. “Their dedication, whether as Good Samaritan Committee members, board members, friends of SFCC, or SFCC staff, has been absolutely invaluable. A special thank you goes to the Blue Blazers from Carver Middle School, Scotland Motors, and Scotia Village for their support on event night, ensuring a smooth experience for all attendees.” 

Contributions to the 2025 Good Samaritan campaign can be made through June 30, 2025. Thanks to generous underwriting and in-kind support from Scotland Health Care System, The Southern Dream, Brady's Flowers, and Jim Morgan Jazz Group, 100% of funds raised will directly support services provided by the Scotland Family Counseling Center. 

For more information about Scotland Family Counseling Center’s services, activities, and volunteer opportunities, please visit scotlandcounseling.org or call 910-276-7011.