They told us we were crazy. We told them that we are crazy enough to care.
Having suffered - and subsequently overcome - homelessness, three failed businesses, two failed marriages, multiple stays in psychiatric wards, and two suicide attempts, compassion and love saved TAFA co-founder Drew Horn's life and he now is trying to bring this same compassion to others. Drew is a motivational, inspirational, therapeutic comic and clown." In order to keep a promise to his daughter that he would never attempt suicide again, Drew began to pursue comedy which gave him a reason to get up each morning. Eventually, Drew realized that he wanted to do more than entertain - he wanted to end loneliness for individuals isolated because of their disabilities, living in an institution, or falling through the cracks of society.
Since its inception in August 2001, the Turn-A-Frown Around Foundation, Inc. has brought love and laughter to those in nursing homes, psychiatric wards, and related facilities. A staggering 50% of nursing home residents and 75% of psychiatric patients will die without a friend each year. TAFA realizes that this problem is too major, and the solution too simple, to ignore. TAFA's mission is to assist people living with psychiatric and physical disabilities who have lost hope or feel isolated and friendless, by connecting them with a Forever Friend. Forever Friends develop friendships through personal visits, phone calls, and even email.
TAFA's vision is to populate the world with Smile Stations, a gathering of Forever Friends whose sole mission is to end loneliness, one friendship at a time. The first successful Smile Station was founded on the Montclair State University campus in Montclair, NJ in April 2011. The organization is thriving and Smile Stations are gaining popularity across the country.**
