Over $230,000 Raised to Support Mental Health Services in Central Iowa at Women Helping Women 2026

Rachel Degen on June 9, 2026

Over 500 attendees joined the Center’s 28th annual Women Helping Women event on May 15, 2026, raising over $230,000 to support vital mental health counseling, education, training and services for underinsured women, children and families in need.

Mollie Cooney and Amy Putney Koenig discuss during the Women Helping Women 2026 program.

This year’s luncheon offered guests an intimate and heartfelt conversation centered on grief, loss and healing. Guided by moderator and former KCCI journalist Mollie Cooney, Amy Putney Koenig shared personal experiences, thoughtful reflections and meaningful insights on navigating life’s most difficult seasons. Through their honest dialogue, attendees were encouraged to explore the many ways grief shapes our lives while discovering hope, resilience and healing through connection. The powerful discussion resonated deeply with guests and continues to inspire conversation and contemplation beyond the event itself.

Whether you’re new to Women Helping Women, or a longtime supporter, please enjoy highlights from our 2026 luncheon!

Please watch the video of the entire program to experience the highly anticipated panel discussion.

We gathered over 500 people for an inspiring luncheon at the Meadows Events Center in Altoona, Iowa on May 15, 2026, as we celebrated 28 years of Women Helping Women—honoring those who inspire with kindness and lead with purpose. This year’s program featured our 2026 honoree, Suzanna de Baca, whose leadership and activism for mental health support in our communities has impacted countless lives. We also had a thoughtfully curated “fireside chat” that was guided by former KCCI journalist, Mollie Cooney. She and featured speaker Amy Putney Koenig, multidisciplinary artist and Death Doula, led us through a conversation that explored the many ways we experience loss—and how creativity, connection and compassion can help us heal and reimagine what comes next.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, table hosts and supporters, the event raised more than $230,000 to support the Center’s mission of providing critical mental health services to women, children and families across our community.

View 2026 Program
See our photo album of Women Helping Women 2026

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors and donors for supporting our 28th annual Women Helping Women luncheon!

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You can make a difference in the mental health of our women, children and families in Iowa!

Support Women Helping Women

We look forward to your continued support of our next Women Helping Women annual luncheon event!

For more information, contact Heather Stuyvesant, Director of Development

Office: 515-564-5122 | Email: [email protected]

2026 Women Helping Women Donors and Sponsors

Rachel Degen on June 9, 2026

Thank you to our generous sponsors and donors who helped the 28th Annual Women Helping Women event raise over $230,000! Your contribution ensures mental health services for women, children and families who are uninsured or underinsured.

Healing Through Art Recap: A Community Gallery of Resilience and Expression

Rachel Degen on March 13, 2026

Exploring Healing Through Creative Expression

At Mind & Spirit Counseling Center, we believe that healing takes many forms. Sometimes it happens in conversation, sometimes in quiet reflection—and sometimes it appears through color, texture, and creative expression. Our Healing Through Art initiative was created to offer a welcoming space where members of our community could explore and share their vision of healing through art.

Inspired by the prompt “What Healing Looks Like to Me,” this initiative invited people of all ages to reflect on their personal journeys and translate those reflections into creative expression. Through painting, drawing, collage, and other mediums, participants shared pieces that represent hope, resilience, growth, and transformation.

Each artwork reminds us that healing is deeply personal and uniquely beautiful. Together, these pieces transformed our Center into a living gallery—one that reflects the many ways individuals experience strength, renewal, and hope.

A Special Evening: The Healing Through Art Gallery Event

On February 26, Mind & Spirit Counseling Center hosted a special Healing Through Art Gallery Event, celebrating the creativity and courage of community members who participated in this initiative.

Guests had the opportunity to walk through the gallery, take in the diverse interpretations of healing, and experience how art can communicate powerful emotions and stories. The evening was filled with connection, reflection, and appreciation for the many forms healing can take.

One of the most moving moments of the evening came when two individuals shared the personal meaning behind their artwork. Their willingness to speak about their experiences offered a powerful reminder of how creative expression can capture emotions and milestones that words alone sometimes cannot.

We are deeply grateful for their vulnerability and generosity in allowing us to witness part of their healing journey.

A client of Mind & Spirit Counseling Center shares the inspiration behind her art piece at the gallery event.
A client of Mind & Spirit Counseling Center shares the inspiration behind their art piece at the gallery event.

A Gallery That Continues to Inspire

The Healing Through Art collection continues to bring inspiration and reflection to everyone who walks through our doors.

If you would like to experience the artwork in person, we warmly invite you to visit Mind & Spirit Counseling Center. The Healing Through Art gallery will remain on display through the end of May, and we would be honored to share these powerful pieces with you.

To schedule a time to view the gallery, please contact our team.

Support Healing in Our Community

Initiatives like Healing Through Art are made possible because of the generosity of our community. Every day, individuals who walk through our doors are able to continue their healing journeys through art, conversation, and other powerful therapeutic approaches because compassionate supporters believe in the importance of accessible care.

Your support helps ensure that these opportunities for healing remain available to those who need them most.

If this story resonates with you, we invite you to consider supporting our work. Your gift helps make healing possible—today and every day.

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When Coverage Becomes Complicated, We Are Standing with Families Through the Change

Heather Stuyvesant on November 17, 2025

In recent months, more families have come to us with a quiet, growing worry:

“I’m anxious about upcoming changes and whether my coverage will continue to support the care I depend on.”

At Mind & Spirit Counseling Center, we want our clients to know this clearly: we continue to accept Medicaid and Medicare, and we will walk alongside anyone navigating upcoming insurance changes. But even with our doors open, we know many in our community may face fewer options, not because they lose their insurance, but because other providers may no longer accept Medicaid or Medicare plans.

For individuals who have finally found a counselor they trust or a routine that keeps them grounded, this uncertainty can feel overwhelming. This moment isn’t about politics or policy debates; it’s about people trying to protect their well-being and hold onto the care that keeps them steady.

What Families Are Experiencing

  • Medicaid Renewals: Millions of people are being asked to re-verify their Medicaid eligibility. Some lose coverage temporarily due to paperwork delays or communication gaps, even when they still qualify. For many, that unexpected interruption feels like the rug being pulled out from under them.
  • Higher Premiums and Copays: As Affordable Care Act marketplace plans adjust pricing for 2025, families who were already stretching their budgets are now facing higher premiums or out-of-pocket costs. When you’re deciding between therapy and the electric bill, the weight of that choice can be overwhelming.
  • Limited Provider Options: While Mind & Spirit Counseling Center remains committed to accepting Medicaid and Medicare, some providers in the community are reducing the number of public insurance plans they take. This shift leaves many individuals scrambling to find a provider — often right in the middle of important therapeutic progress.
  • General Inflation: Rising costs for groceries, rent, and basic necessities drain the same budgets used to pay for mental health care. Even a small increase in copays can mean the difference between attending a session and cancelling it.

A Community Turning Point

As coverage and affordability fluctuate, more people turn to community-based nonprofits like ours for help. And we are honored to be here for them.

But as demand rises, we rely more than ever on compassionate supporters, people who believe that access to mental health care should never disappear because someone fell behind on paperwork or couldn’t afford a higher bill.

You make it possible for us to say “yes” when someone asks, “Can I still come?”

How Planned Giving and Non-Cash Gifts Strengthen Our Mission

Planned giving is one of the most meaningful, lasting ways supporters can walk alongside families during moments of uncertainty. These gifts don’t just fund services; they create stability for people whose lives feel anything but stable.

Why It Matters

Your planned or non-cash gift helps us:

  • Maintain sliding-scale and low-cost counseling
  • Expand services when more families need help
  • Offer care even when someone is experiencing a coverage gap
  • Ensure no one is turned away because of affordability

These are not just financial outcomes. They are human ones, measured in renewed hope, restored confidence, and the ability to continue healing.

Ways to Give Beyond Cash

Many supporters are surprised to learn they can make a powerful difference without affecting their daily finances. Non-cash gifts may also offer tax benefits and include:

  • Stocks or mutual funds
  • Real estate
  • Charitable IRA distributions
  • Life insurance beneficiary designations
  • Donor-advised fund contributions

Each of these gifts strengthens our ability to remain a steady, reliable source of care — today and for years to come.

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Your Compassion Can Change the Ending for Someone in Crisis

When someone worries they may lose access to the counselor who finally understands them…
When a parent fears insurance changes will disrupt their child’s progress…
When an older adult on Medicare needs care but can’t find a nearby provider who accepts their plan…

These experiences aren’t hypothetical — they’re unfolding quietly in our community.

In these moments, what changes the outcome isn’t a policy or a program.
It’s a person who chooses to care. Someone like you.

Your generosity ensures we can continue saying “yes” — yes to care, yes to compassion, yes to being there for someone at their most vulnerable.

You have the power to make sure no one’s mental health support disappears because their insurance options shift.

A planned gift becomes a legacy of dignity, stability, and hope — one that rises above any policy change or economic pressure.

If you’ve ever wished you could make a lasting, deeply personal impact, this is that moment.
Your gift today becomes someone’s turning point tomorrow.

Let’s build a future where help is always there when someone reaches for it — because you made that future possible.

Take the next step toward creating lasting change.
Explore planned giving opportunities today!

Choosing to give through your Donor Advised Fund, IRA Charitable Rollover, stock transfer, employer match or something similar? Please use EIN # 42-0995074

Make Your Gift Go Further in 2025

Heather Stuyvesant on October 13, 2025

The countdown is on! As 2025 winds down, we have some good news (and some “better-give-now” news) about charitable giving.

Thanks to recent changes in federal tax law, the rules are shifting in 2026, which means your generosity this year could pack an even bigger punch.

Here’s the scoop on why 2025 is the year to give:

Why Giving Now is Smart

  • Top earners save more this year: In 2025, high-income donors still get a 37% tax benefit per dollar given. Starting in 2026, it drops to 35%. Translation? Giving now = more savings.
  • No itemizer roadblocks (yet!): Beginning in 2026, you’ll need to donate at least 0.5% of your income before your charitable gifts even qualify for a deduction. Right now, every gift counts toward your tax benefit.
  • Non-cash gifts are golden: Donating appreciated stock, real estate, or even giving directly from your IRA (if you’re 70½+) can help you avoid taxes and make a bigger impact than cash alone.
  • Bundle for big benefits: If you’re planning to support Mind & Spirit Counseling Center for years to come, consider “bundling” several years’ worth of gifts into 2025. More impact for us, more savings for you.

Corporate Giving Gets a Boost

Starting in 2026, corporations will need to give at least 1% of their taxable income to keep their deductions. That means 2025 is the perfect time to build new partnerships — or, if you own a business, to show your team and community that mental health matters!

Your Gift = Hope and Healing

Every gift to Mind & Spirit Counseling Center makes counseling accessible to someone who needs it most. From families navigating grief, to teens battling anxiety, to individuals searching for spiritual strength — regardless of financial circumstances.

This year, your gift goes even further for you and for the community!

So don’t wait: make your gift by December 31, 2025 and help us close the year strong.

give today!

Choosing to give through your Donor Advised Fund, IRA Charitable Rollover, stock transfer, employer match or something similar? Please use EIN # 42-0995074

Women Helping Women 2025 Ignites Community & Connection With Over $234,000 Raised to Support Mental Health Services in Central Iowa

Rachel Degen on May 13, 2025

Nearly 600 attendees joined the Center’s 27th annual Women Helping Women event on May 2, 2025, raising over $234,000 to support vital mental health counseling, education, training and services for underinsured women, children and families in need.

Women Helping Women 2025 photo of panelists on stage during program

This year’s luncheon offered guests the first experience of a panelist discussion in the history of Women Helping Women. The panel went in depth on how social media can affect our mental health. Moderated by former broadcast journalist, Jackie Schmillen, the panel was guided to share real stories and provide expert opinions on this theme. With such a timely subject matter, the discussion has continued generating conversations since the event!

Whether you’re new to Women Helping Women, or a longtime supporter, please enjoy highlights from our 2025 luncheon!

Please stay tuned to watch the video of the entire program to experience the highly anticipated panel discussion.

We gathered nearly 600 people for an inspiring luncheon at the Meadows Events Center in Altoona, Iowa on May 2, 2025, as we celebrated 27 years of Women Helping Women—honoring those who inspire with kindness and lead with purpose. This year’s program featured our 2025 honoree, Mary Gottschalk, whose leadership and determination have impacted countless lives, and a powerful panel discussion exploring the impact of social media on mental health. Moderated by Jackie Schmillen, the panel included insights from Dr. Heidi Bowden, Gabby Guerra, Hannah Koch and Rob Randazzo, who shared both professional expertise and personal reflections on navigating digital life while supporting mental wellness.

Their conversation shed light on how social media influences self-worth, connection and anxiety—especially among youth—and why cultivating healthy boundaries and community support is more important than ever.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, table hosts and supporters, the event raised more than $234,000 to support the Center’s mission of providing critical mental health services to women, children and families across our community.

Women Helping Women 2025 Program Cover
View 2025 Program

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See highlights of Women Helping Women from Past years

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors and donors for supporting our 27th annual Women Helping Women luncheon!

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You can make a difference in the mental health of women, children and families!

Support Women Helping Women

We look forward to your continued support of our next Women Helping Women annual luncheon event!

For more information, contact Heather Stuyvesant, Director of Development

Office: 515-564-5122 | Email: [email protected]

2025 Women Helping Women Donors and Sponsors

Rachel Degen on May 13, 2025

Thank you to our generous sponsors and donors who helped the 27th Annual Women Helping Women event raise over $234,000! Your contribution ensures mental health services for women, children and families who are uninsured or underinsured.

Mind & Spirit Counseling Center Awarded $75,000 Grant to Support Clinical Training Program

Heather Stuyvesant on January 7, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Heather Stuyvesant
Director of Development
Mind & Spirit Counseling Center
(515) 564-5122
[email protected]

Urbandale, Iowa – December 18, 2024 – Mind & Spirit Counseling Center is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Maytag Family Foundation to support its Clinical Training Program in 2025. This transformative funding will enhance the Center’s efforts to address Iowa’s mental health workforce shortage by preparing the next generation of skilled mental health clinicians.

The Clinical Training Program at Mind & Spirit Counseling Center provides a rigorous, hands-on learning environment for graduate students, provisionally licensed counselors and postdoctoral psychology fellows. Through classroom instruction, clinical supervision, and direct client care, trainees gain invaluable experience while supporting the Center’s mission to provide high-quality, affordable mental health care to underinsured and uninsured clients.

“The generous support of the Maytag Family Foundation enables us to expand our Clinical Training Program and continue our tradition of training high-quality clinicians who are essential to Iowa’s mental health workforce,” said Jim Hayes, Executive Director of Mind & Spirit Counseling Center. “This grant will directly impact our ability to meet the growing demand for mental health services while ensuring that clients, regardless of their financial situation, receive the care they need. Together, we are building a healthier, more resilient Iowa.”

Iowa currently ranks 45th in the nation for mental health workforce availability, with nearly half of adults with mental illness unable to access necessary treatment. Mind & Spirit Counseling Center is committed to addressing this critical issue by equipping clinicians with the tools and knowledge to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to those in need.

Since its founding in 1980, the Clinical Training Program has successfully prepared more than 120 mental health professionals, with over 95% of graduates continuing to serve Iowa communities. The Maytag Family Foundation grant will allow the Center to strengthen its program and continue making a profound difference in the lives of trainees and clients alike.

About Maytag Family Foundation

The Maytag Family Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations and initiatives that improve the quality of life in communities throughout Iowa. With a focus on education, health, and community well-being, the Foundation invests in innovative programs that create meaningful and lasting impacts.

Boost Your Impact: How Donating Stock Can Maximize Your Giving and Strengthen Our Mission

Rachel Degen on November 6, 2024

Donating stock

If you’re looking for a unique way to make a difference, donating stock could be a great option. With the stock market performing well, many investors are seeing significant gains. Rather than cashing out, you might consider donating some of those appreciated stocks directly to a nonprofit like Mind & Spirit Counseling Center. Here’s why this could be a smart choice.

Why Donate Stock?

Stock donations are not only a financially savvy way to support the causes you care about but also a highly impactful one. Here are some of the unique benefits to consider:

  1. Avoid Capital Gains Tax
    When you sell stock, you typically owe capital gains tax on any increase in value. By donating the stock directly, you avoid this tax, allowing you to contribute a larger amount to the nonprofit—tax-free. For instance, if your stock has doubled in value, you won’t owe tax on that gain, which means your gift’s value is maximized.
  2. Receive a Fair Market Deduction
    Stock donations also allow you to deduct the full fair market value of the stock on the day of the donation. This can offset your income tax for the year, further enhancing the tax efficiency of your gift.
  3. Strengthen Your Impact
    With the market’s recent strength, many investors are in a position to give generously. This means your donation could have an even greater impact than a cash gift, as you’re able to contribute a more significant amount without it costing you any extra out-of-pocket.

When we receive stock donations, it allows for larger contributions that help us create a stronger impact in the community. Because these gifts often have higher values due to tax benefits, they empower us to fund vital programs and plan for the future with greater confidence.

Donating Stock is Easier Than You Might Think

If this sounds like a meaningful way to give, rest assured that donating stock is often a simple process as outlined in the below image from a reputable source. By choosing to donate stock, you’re supporting our mission in an impactful way while also making the most of recent gains in the market.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to give stock, reach out to Heather Stuyvesant or call 515-564-5122. We’d love to help you make the most of your generosity as we wrap up on 2024.

Together, We Can Make a Difference.

Rachel Degen on November 6, 2024

A heartfelt letter written by our 2024 Women Helping Women Honoree and Author, Carol Bodensteiner. We’re grateful Carol chose Mind & Spirit Counseling Center as part of her journey.

Dear Friends,

If you’re anything like me, you believe that you should be able to handle whatever life throws your way. We all know there will be bumps in the road, but even when we stumble, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start again.

This mindset comes naturally to me. From my English heritage, I inherited the traits of a ‘stiff upper lip’ and the determination to ‘keep calm and carry on.’ From my German roots, I acquired the ability to work hard and solve my own problems. These values have served me well throughout my life—through a successful career, raising a son, and navigating the ups and downs of marriage and divorce. No challenge seemed insurmountable if I just kept moving forward.

But life has a way of testing us, sometimes beyond our limits.

When my mother passed away in August 2007, it was a shock, but at 91, her death felt natural. However, less than nine months later, my sister died by suicide, and I was knocked off balance. Within the next 18 months, I lost two close cousins and my aunt. My marriage also hit a rough patch. The weight of so much loss in such a short time, coupled with the strain on my marriage, shook me to my core. I began to question everything—my faith, my values, and even my own identity.

Despite it all, I believed I could still manage on my own. I thought if I just put one foot in front of the other, I could keep going. But I wasn’t okay. When my husband suffered a serious injury, I realized I couldn’t take it anymore. Life had become overwhelming, and I was at my breaking point.

In a rare moment of vulnerability, I confided in a friend, who recommended the Mind & Spirit Counseling Center. Although I had known about the Center for years, counseling had never been my first choice. It wasn’t the way I was raised. But I had nothing left, and I knew it was time to seek help.

From the moment I walked through the doors of the Center, I was met with compassion and understanding. My counselor was soft-spoken and caring, guiding me through my present-day struggles while helping me unpack the deeper issues from my past. Week after week, session after session, she provided a safe space for me to cry, reflect, and heal.

As a writer, I process my emotions through words, and I brought that into my counseling sessions. With a notebook on my lap and pen in hand, I recorded my thoughts, even as tears blurred the ink. My counselor’s gentle questions helped me examine my own experiences and provided me with the perspective I desperately needed. Over time, I began to find my footing again.

I am deeply grateful to the Mind & Spirit Counseling Center for being my safe haven during the darkest time of my life. Their talented counselors provide a lifeline to so many who, like me, reach a point where we can’t go it alone, no matter how strong or independent we believe ourselves to be.

As the year comes to a close, I invite you to join me in supporting the Mind & Spirit Counseling Center. Your generous donation will ensure that this beacon of hope continues to shine for those who need it most. Together, we can make a profound difference in the lives of others who find themselves at a crossroads, searching for the strength to carry on.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Carol Bodensteiner, 2024 Women Helping Women Honoree and Author sends a heartfelt letter of gratitude.

Carol Bodensteiner is a public relations professional with over two decades of experience in the marketing industry. After leaving agency life, Carol embarked on a successful writing career, authoring several books, including a memoir and novels depicting life in Iowa. A long-time supporter of the Center, she has served on the Women Helping Women committee for several years, including as a co-chair. Carol is passionate about helping others succeed through initiatives supporting literacy and language by serving as an adult ELL teacher for Oakridge Neighborhood and reading to children through the United Way Book Buddy Program. In her free time, she participates in two book clubs and savors time on her acreage with her husband, David, and with her son’s family, who visit often.

Visit carolbodensteiner.com for more details about Carol and her work as an author.

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