Latest News
On Tuesday, May 16, join us at Hand Fire Pizza for "Pizza For a Purpose," where a portion of proceeds from each pizza go toward Mission Critical. If only all decisions about dinner could be so simple.
During “Pizza for a Purpose” $4 of every large pizza and $2 of every small pizza sold will benefit TCSAR.
Come say hello and learn about TCSAR’s effort to secure a year-round rescue helicopter for Teton County.
Thank you, Hand Fire Pizza!
Jackson, Wyo. — In a sign of its success and value to the Jackson Hole community, management of Teton Interagency Peer Support, commonly known as TIPS, is being moved from Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. This means that all future administration and fundraising will go through the Community Foundation, which is in an excellent position to run the program for several coordinating agencies.
The Stress Continuum is yet one tool that TIPS uses as a mental health check-in.
"TIPS provides a critical support system for our local first responders, who are experiencing a range of traumatic experiences in service to our community," Community Foundation President Laurie Andrews said. "The Community Foundation's Behavioral Health Initiative's administration of TIPS will ensure that our first responders continue to receive the support services they need."
TIPS began in the fall of 2018. At the time, local first responders were becoming aware that stress injuries could occur in the field, but they didn’t have the tools or network to adequately treat them. Acceptance of this issue made it clear that stress injuries needed treatment programs similar to physical injuries, and that simply ‘toughing it out’ could do lasting damage to a person and their relationships. TIPS was born to better serve local first responders by providing a network of mental health support.
In 2022 alone, TIPS provided 1,500 peer support connections and access to 324 sessions with mental health professionals.
"The TIPS program has been instrumental in elevating the importance of supporting our fellow first responders after traumatic rescues occur,” said TCSAR volunteer Ethan Lobdell. “TIPS seeks to establish a safety net for our friends and family members who make up the first responder community. Its goal is to make sure none of us succumbs to the negative mental health outcomes that can be associated with exposure to traumatic events. Our community is stronger, our futures brighter, and our first responder teams more prepared to engage with the critical work they do because of the TIPS support program."
TIPS has also provided the base programming for psychological first aid, allowing first responders all over the valley to be trained to help those involved in accidents to understand stress injuries and how and when they may affect you.
TIPS, which serves all first responders in Teton County, Wyo., is funded by a combination of private donations and through funding commitments by the cooperating agencies.
For more information on the program or to see how you can support TIPS, please visit www.tetontips.com.
The announcement of TIPS coincides with May being recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, a nationwide initiative intended to raise the importance of mental health while removing the stigma surrounding it. For more information, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Jackson, Wyo. — After spending 13 years at the helm of Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation, Stephanie Thomas, the organization’s founding Executive Director, has announced that she will be leaving her position upon the successful conclusion of Mission Critical, the capital campaign intended to bring a year-round rescue helicopter to Teton County.
As TCSAR Foundation’s leader since its inception in 2010, Thomas has directed the Foundation forward through numerous projects and campaigns while forging partnerships and redefining success in the nonprofit sector. Mission Critical is the latest accomplishment in which Thomas successfully directed a fundraising campaign of $7.25 million in less than a year. With Mission Critical scheduled to be complete by May 31, 2023, Thomas will make her exit at that time.
“Stephanie believed that community support could elevate an already distinguished TCSAR team up to the next level of accomplishment,” said Missy Whelan, emeritus board member for TCSAR Foundation. “Her driving energy and out-of-the-box thinking were just a couple of her unique qualities that helped to make TCSAR Foundation’s successes possible. She leaves behind a huge legacy of lasting impact and she will really be missed.”
A TCSAR volunteer since 2007, Thomas will continue to serve in that capacity.
““I’m excited to continue my role as a TCSAR volunteer, and I look forward to my next chapter in this wonderful community. Leading the Foundation has been an incredible journey and I’m so appreciative of the Foundation board, staff, donors, and all the amazing community members I’ve had the joy of working with over the years in support of TCSAR and backcountry safety.””
“Supporting our community through supporting my team, truly like a family, has been something I will always be grateful for as it’s an opportunity most people can only dream about,” Thomas said. “I’m excited to continue my role as a TCSAR volunteer, and I look forward to my next chapter in this wonderful community. Leading the Foundation has been an incredible journey and I’m so appreciative of the Foundation board, staff, donors, and all the amazing community members I’ve had the joy of working with over the years in support of TCSAR and backcountry safety.”
Tim Ciocarlan, a TCSAR volunteer for 30 years and Thomas's original supervisor at TCSAR, stated, “Stephanie has always excelled at building new relationships while supporting old ones. Whether putting her team together, initiating public-awareness programs, or fostering relationships for fundraising goals, Stephanie continues to wildly exceed any of my expectations.”
Under Thomas’s leadership, TCSAR Foundation has accomplished the following:
Orchestrated the Mission Critical campaign to raise funds to purchase a year-round rescue helicopter for Teton County.
Raised the profile of TCSARF to garner a new level of grassroots support through Old Bill’s and other fundraising platforms.
Supported the work of TIPS—Teton Interagency Peer Support—to provide anonymous free mental health support to all first-responders and their families in Teton County.
Worked with Search & Rescue teams regionally, nationally and internationally to redesign funding models for increased support for SAR teams throughout the world.
Advocated for the increase in helicopter operation funds from the county from 4 months to 8 months, and raised donations through the Heli-Yes campaign to fund additional training and partnerships.
Redesigned the community education program into Backcountry Zero, currently in its eighth year, which included launching The Fine Line podcast, the Wyoming Snow & Avalanche Workshop, and What’s in Your Pack programming for people of all ages and abilities.
Created the TCSAR Foundation in 2012, separating the nonprofit from the TCSAR operations to allow volunteers to focus energies on rescues while a non-rescue volunteer board took over the fundraising and community education goals.
Raised funds to outfit the entire SAR volunteer team with personal safety gear, removing the financial burden from volunteers to provide their own equipment.
Raised the funds necessary to build the TCSAR hangar in 2010 and its remodel in 2015 to add additional meeting and office space.
TCSAR Foundation is currently working on a succession plan to coincide with Thomas’s departure. Liz King, who has been with the Foundation since 2019, will take over as interim Executive Director until a permanent ED is hired. A celebration for Thomas will take place in early June.
