Welcome to Walt’s Waltz
Walt's Waltz was founded to broaden Walt Crooks’ mission to reduce suffering in our world. His teachings were subtle but powerful as he modeled compassion, humility, courage, empathy, and fair-mindedness. He stood up for those without a voice and helped those in need, never one for the spotlight. Our hands are outstretched as a symbol of hope and fellowship. Will you join our dance?
Who We Are
Founded in Greenville, South Carolina, Walt’s Waltz is dedicated to revolutionizing the way mental health is viewed and treated. As a grassroots non-profit, we have made amazing progress thanks to community support, particularly individual donations from folks in the Upstate of South Carolina. Grantmakers are beginning to take notice. Susan Crooks and her son, Will, our interns, and board members are the backbone of Walt’s Waltz. We continue to grow organically. One person tells another and the dance goes on.
We pride ourselves on having the reputation, "Walt’s Waltz always shows up.” In 2023, Susan Crooks attended 130 in-person events, and we impacted over 7,000 individuals. Our work involves professionally led educational programs, integration of the performing and visual arts, and creation of Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments, but we don’t stop there. To further reduce suffering and suicides, Walt’s Waltz advocates for a Mental Health Moonshot for equitable funding for those seeking mental health services and also for support including cutting-edge research in the the fields of genetics and epigenetics as seen with physical conditions.
The “Waltz” : Our 3-Step Action Plan
Education - We educate the community about mental health so that we can increase mental health literacy. Through education, we can promote awareness and create conversations surrounding mental health.
Equity - Through our education and awareness programs, we build a community that views mental and physical health through the same lens. This creates demand to revolutionize how we approach mental health which includes the need for funding in the areas of genetics and epigenetics as seen in other illnesses and diseases and for mental health services for all.
Stigma-Free - Through education and the development of equity, we empower the community to have open discussions about mental health, by creating access to safe spaces that promote well-being.
Please take a few moments to listen to our founder, Susan Crooks, talk about what we do here at Walt’s Waltz.
Our Beginnings…
Walt, a gentle, loving soul whose life’s mission was to reduce suffering, died from treatment-resistant anxiety and depression on Thursday, August 22, 2019, after 20 years of struggle. The questions, the guilt, the sorrow, the what ifs… it all rained down on us as we struggled to come to terms with this new reality. It seemed impossible to draw breath. But, on that next Saturday, my son, Will, had a vision to keep Walt’s life mission alive, to create an organization to reduce suffering so that humanity could move toward an increased understanding of mental health conditions. This was the Genesis of Walt’s Waltz, a name that represented Walt’s memory and his love for music in ¾ time. This creation stemmed from the need to address education, equity, and stigma. Within weeks, we had Clemson University, SC Small Business Alliance, and the University of South Carolina Law Clinic eagerly on board to help us. Will and I are amazed at the outreach of love and support we continue to receive. People contact us daily with stories of loss and struggle, many expressing to us how they had once lived life in the shadows and how thankful they are for the way we are shining a light on mental health conditions. Our officers and board members each have a unique understanding and closeness to this cause as well as an eagerness to spread the message of HOPE that Walt’s Waltz represents.
Contact us to find out more about becoming a Walt's Waltz Stigma-Free Environment
Walt’s Waltz is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. EIN 84-3226395