On Friday June 4th 2010 The Discovery Counseling Center of Danville received a check from the Friends of Discovery (which operates the Danville Thrift Station) bringing their total contribution over a period of 38 years to SIX MILLION DOLLARS in support of its counseling center for families and students in need in the San Ramon Valley.

The Friends of Discovery runs the Thrift Station with a crew of more than 100 volunteers. Every four years for the past 12 years another million has been raised through sales of donated items mostly in the under $10 category. Each year about a quarter of a million dollars is given directly to the Discovery Counseling Center. Thom Martin, the Director of Discovery, received the check at the Luncheon Fashion Show that was held at the San Ramon Golf Course club house. He estimates that in just the last 5 years alone over 10,000 counseling sessions have been provided for people in need in the San Ramon Valley. By doing some quick math this means that because of the support, generosity, and hard work of the Friends of Discovery Thrift Station a total of over 250,000 counseling sessions have been provided. The Friends of Discovery have been the recipient of several awards in the past: (1)The Threads of Hope award in 1999 sponsored by Diablo Magazine; and then (2) in 2004 won one of three Impact Awards also sponsored by Diablo Magazine; and (3) the Charitable Organization of the Year in 2008 given by the Danville Chamber of Commerce.

The Thrift Station continues to be one of the most successful businesses in the Valley. The dedicated volunteers know how important it is that there be a local center for families facing mental health and other issues in our community.

The Discovery Center was founded in 1969 to respond to the urgent need of helping people through crises and major problems including depression, anxiety, substance abuse and life transitions. Discovery has three primary programs. First, the counseling center provides affordable and high quality counseling to individuals, couples and families. Second, Prevention Services includes groups, case management and outreach, which are all aimed at reducing the incidence of substance abuse by promoting family bonding and healthy communication. Lastly, the school counseling and intervention programs offer individual and group counseling to schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

Thanks to the work of the Thrift Station, Discovery Center’s motto is “No one is turned away for an inability to pay”.