Every year, bright, capable teenagers are denied life-saving treatment—not because help doesn’t exist, but because families cannot afford it.
Access to effective adolescent treatment should never depend on a family’s financial circumstances. When a young person is struggling with mental health or substance-use challenges, the window to get help can be narrow—and the consequences of delay can be profound.
Your gift helps ensure that financial hardship does not delay a young person’s chance at recovery.
FreshStart utilizes the services of Zeffy, a nonprofit organization that helps other nonprofits minimize the fees associated with accepting electronic donations. When you donate to FreshStart using the button above, Zeffy will ask you for a donation to support their services - that donation is completely optional, and you may enter 0 in the box as your donation to Zeffy without any affect on your donation to FreshStart.
Our Mission
Bridging the Gap Between Crisis and Care
FreshStart Foundation exists to bridge the gap between families in crisis and the care their children urgently need. By easing the financial burden of treatment, we help families move forward with confidence, clarity, and hope.
For families already overwhelmed by fear, shame, and exhaustion, the cost of treatment can be the final, devastating obstacle. FreshStart exists so that no young person is turned away at the moment they are ready to accept help.
Every FreshStart scholarship represents a family choosing recovery over despair—and a young person being given a real chance at healing.
What We Do
Making Treatment Possible When It Matters Most
FreshStart Foundation provides targeted financial support that allows teens to enter accredited treatment programs—often at the precise moment they are willing to accept help. By stepping in when insurance falls short or families are overwhelmed, we turn hesitation into action and crisis into possibility.
We work closely with carefully vetted treatment programs that meet the highest professional and ethical standards, ensuring that every scholarship supports quality, accountable care.
With compassion, integrity, and accountability, FreshStart helps change the trajectory of young lives—transforming moments of crisis into opportunities for recovery and renewal.
Who We Are
Providing Much Needed Access to Care
FreshStart Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that financial hardship never stands between a young person and the mental health or substance-use treatment they need.
Founded by Patrick and Betsy Barrasso in response to families facing urgent moments of crisis, FreshStart works alongside parents and caregivers when help is available, readiness is present, and cost becomes the deciding obstacle.
Why It Matters
Timely Support Changes Lives
High-quality care has already transformed the lives of countless teens and families. Yet too often, access to that care is delayed or denied because of cost.
When families are forced to wait, the risk to a young person’s health, safety, and future increases. FreshStart exists to prevent financial barriers from standing in the way of recovery.
With your support, more teens can begin treatment when they are ready—and more families can take the next step forward with hope.
Get Involved
Partner With FreshStart at a Pivotal Moment
Meaningful Ways to Make a Lasting Difference
Individual and Family Philanthropy
Significant gifts provide direct, flexible support for treatment scholarships and allow FreshStart to respond quickly when families face urgent financial gaps. Major donors play a vital role in stabilizing moments of crisis and accelerating access to care.
Donor-Advised Funds
FreshStart Foundation welcomes grants from donor-advised funds and works closely with donors and advisors to align giving strategies with the Foundation’s mission. DAF support offers a tax-efficient way to make meaningful, mission-aligned investments in timely care.
Named Scholarships
Named scholarships allow donors and families to create a lasting, personal connection to FreshStart’s work. These scholarships may honor a loved one, recognize a family’s commitment to recovery, or reflect a donor’s philanthropic priorities—while providing direct, measurable impact for young people in need.
Legacy and Planned Giving
Planned gifts offer an opportunity to extend your values into the future. By including FreshStart Foundation in your estate plans, you help ensure that access to care remains available to young people and families for years to come.
Stewardship and Partnership
FreshStart Foundation is committed to responsible stewardship, transparency, and thoughtful donor engagement. Major donors receive meaningful opportunities to understand the impact of their support and the lives made possible through their partnership.
We welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your philanthropic goals and explore how your support can help make timely care possible. Please contact us at development@freshstart.foundation and we will follow up promptly.
Your gift helps ensure that financial hardship does not delay a young person’s chance at recovery.
FreshStart utilizes the services of Zeffy, a nonprofit organization that helps other nonprofits minimize the fees associated with accepting electronic donations. When you donate to FreshStart using the button above, Zeffy will ask you for a donation to support their services - that donation is completely optional, and you may enter 0 in the box as your donation to Zeffy without any affect on your donation to FreshStart.
Important Info
Tax Status
FreshStart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization recognized by the IRS. Donations made by individuals and corporations are generally tax deductible.
FreshStart Foundation's Federal Tax ID or EIN is 81-1503697.
Address
FreshStart Foundation
6107 East Grant
Tucson, Arizona 85712