SPARKLE MOTION FOUNDATION

The inspiration for the Sparkle Motion Foundation comes from two places, one as witnessing a dear friend struggle through a mental health crisis, only to have his insurance deny him the full scope of care his doctors deemed necessary for his recovery. Though his medical team recommended a full month of inpatient treatment, his insurance cut him off after just 12 days, derailing his progress in ways that cost him far more than just money. His experience fueled my passion for mental health advocacy and the creation of an organization dedicated to ensuring people receive the care they truly need.

The second inspiration is much more personal and a story which I have never told before. In late December of 2014 I was coming off the biggest year of my then 25 year catering career, having successfully catered the build-up to Track Town USA, the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, a 6 day event with a crew of 3 rock star caterers by my side. I had also catered a week long bicycle tour down the Oregon coast for the Arthritis Foundation for 60 riders as well a Ford Explorer commercial from the coast to the mountains, ending with a six figure income, not too shabby for a solo caterer. There were many other amazing gigs that year, but those were the stand outs, that I was the most proud of. I had taken my annual trip to Las Vegas to see Jimmy Buffett, and on that trip a friend of mine introduced me to a chef who I had long admired, Kerry Simon. I had every reason to be on top of the world, yet I felt hollow and empty inside and nothing filled the void and the darkness. I had realized every goal I had set for myself and more, yet I wasn’t happy.

On December 29th, 2014, I headed to the Sou’wester Lodge in Seaview, Washington, to attend a lecture by a local writer about the making of a favorite film, Sometimes A Great Notion. The topic was the lore and history of the antics of Paul Newman and the rest of the cast and crew when they shot the film on the central Oregon coast, followed by a screening of the film. I decided when I left Portland that I didn’t mean anything to anyone, and if I didn’t survive the drive, no one would care. If I made it look like an accident on the dark, rainy drive no one would know the difference. I remember driving too fast and passing on blind corners and when I arrived in Seaview in one piece, I thought Wow, what a failure, I couldn’t even get that right. After I checked into my room, I went to the lecture and I recognized a friend of a friend, a poet named Tim, who knew the writer. He sat with me and we proceeded to drink tequila through the evening. I think he must have sensed my distress, because we started talking and after the event we kept talking. We headed to the dive bar next door for some drunken karaoke, and afterwards, went back to the lodge and talked late into the night. He was kind enough to listen, actually listen to me, and offer some kind words and sage advice. It was the kind of deep, random philosophical conversation that only happens in late nights fueled by alcohol and desperation, but I don’t think I would be here today without that night. I woke up the next day with a renewed sense of determination to change my outlook on my life, so thank you Tim the Poet, for that life altering conversation. I highly doubt that was the night he had planned to have, but I am incredibly grateful it was the night he chose to have.

In 2025 I was diagnosed with complex PTSD and have been in treatment ever since then, so as you can see, this topic is very important to me. Through treatment I have achieved a sense of clarity and peace that is truly life changing and I wake up grateful every day that I made it to Seaview on that rainy night 10 years ago.

These experiences fueled my passion for mental health advocacy and the creation of an organization dedicated to ensuring people receive the care they truly need.