Compeer Chester County, a nonprofit organization that pairs people living with mental health conditions with volunteer friends from the community, celebrated its 25th anniversary on Oct. 2 during a luncheon held at the Desmond Hotel Malvern.

A special guest was Rob Chisholm, who was recognized as founder and emeritus program director. Chisholm was presented with a plaque of appreciation "in recognition of his extraordinary vision and enduring commitment."

Also in attendance were Donna Kueny, program manager; Jeannine Lisitski, president and CEO, Mental Health Partnerships (MHP); and Marian Moskowitz, Chester County commissioner, who presented Compeer with a citation of recognition.

Sherry Thompsen, Compeer program coordinator, presented a talk titled "Mental Wellness Starts With Friendship: Celebrating a Quarter Century."

In her talk she credited Chisholm, the agencies that support Compeer and the agency's advisory council, as well as the volunteer friends. "For 25 years, our purpose has been to support mental wellness in our community through friendship. And we continue to achieve that purpose," she stated. "So far, over the past 25 years, we've served over 350 Chester County residents living with mental health challenges. And we couldn't have done it without the many volunteers who have helped Compeer achieve its purpose."

Compeer pairs that were in attendance were recognized and given an opportunity to speak about how they benefit from the program.

The goal of the "nonclinical social engagement program" is to foster mental well-being through social interaction. Having a "compeer," which means "peer" or "companion," is designed to help build self-esteem and reduce loneliness in a person dealing with mental health challenges.

According to a history of the program, Chisholm founded Compeer Chester County in 1999 after previously starting a Compeer program that served Montgomery and Delaware counties. He utilized a program model that was created by Compeer International.

Since its inception, Compeer Chester County has been funded by the Chester County Department of Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (MH/IDD) and operated under the auspices of MHP, along with private donations and grants.

By January of 2000, Compeer matched 25 adults with volunteer friends from the community. Beginning in 2005, Chisholm was assisted by Thompsen, who started as a volunteer and then was named outreach consultant. Her role expanded over time and, in 2013 she became an official part-time MHP staff member.

Chisholm retired in 2014, and between 2015 and 2018, Bill Kaiser and Don Altemus each served as program managers at different times. Kueny was named program manager in December 2018 after serving as division director for MHP.

Compeer is always in need of volunteers, who are paired with individuals of the same gender and geographical area who share common interests. Pairs share activities such as attending a sporting event or a movie or going for coffee or lunch. Individuals in the program have been diagnosed with conditions such as depression, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, and they are referred to the program by a mental health professional.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Kueny at 610-436-4445 or dkueny@mhphope.org. More information is also available at www.compeerchesco.org.