Breakthrough Club, a not-for-profit mental health agency in Wichita, announces today that Kathy Walter will resign her position of Executive Director effective January 14th.

Mike Ruggiero, President of Breakthrough Club's Board of Directors, said that the board will decide a suitable interim Executive Director this month to drive the agency's commitment to helping people suffering from mental illness.

"We thank Kathy for her service to Breakthrough Club over the past 7 months. We will be deciding an interim Executive Director at our next board meeting on January 21st. We continue to remain committed to our mission of helping individuals with mental illness achieve their independence while maintaining the integrity of our clubhouse model, and continuing our case management services to our members. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish Kathy the best in her future endeavors."

Breakthrough Club helps approximately 400 people struggling with mental illness on a yearly basis. The club celebrates many success stories, one of which is Patrick Leahy.

"I have alot more confidence since coming to Breakthrough Club," said Patrick Leahy, one of our young adult members. "I can function as a person- I don't feel like I am my mental illness, I know there is much more to me. I am definitely more at ease--when I got out of jail and had nowhere to go, Breakthrough got me a life again. I am really excited to continue my education through the Consumers as Providers program, and I know that all of that is because of how Breakthrough helped me. I am a better person because of them."