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.
Our 3-Step Approach - The Waltz
Education: We educate the community to improve mental health literacy, fostering awareness and open conversations. By emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health, we encourage earlier engagement with mental health services and build a community that values both equally.
Equity: As more individuals seek help, we advocate for accessible and equitable mental health services for everyone. By uniting more voices in this effort, we can strengthen our call for increased funding and resources. We are committed to ensuring equity in research funding, seeking support that matches the level given to physical health conditions including brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s and autism, particularly in the fields of genetics and epigenetics.
Stigma-Free: Through education and advocacy, we create stigma-free spaces where people feel safe to discuss mental health openly. These environments promote early intervention, encourage seeking help even before crises arise, and support proactive mental health care. By fostering such spaces, we help reduce stigma and build a healthier, more compassionate, and accepting community where everyone feels empowered to prioritize their mental 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